An expectant mum due to give birth on European Parliament election day missed out on voting because her postal vote failed to arrive.

Burnham couple Mandi and Ben Deakin, who have never missed casting their votes, had asked for a postal ballot because their daughter was due to be born on Thursday.

Mrs Deakin, who actually gave birth to Honey the following morning, even called Maldon District Council on election day while in the early stages of labour to find out if she could still vote.

She said they filled in the necessary forms for the postal vote but heard nothing back.

A council spokesman said: “We are confident that our processes are robust and that there has not been any errors on the council’s part.”