VOTERS will go to the polls today to have their say in one of the most significant elections in Colchester for decades.

Only a third of Colchester Council has previously been up for election - 20 out of 60 seats.

However, from today there are only 51 seats - three seats in 17 wards - and all of them are up for grabs.

The changes have been introduced following a review of Colchester by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

It is the first change to Colchester Council's wards since 2000 and the most radical change in voting since the re-organisation of local government in 1974.

Each ward has been determined by population meaning some town centre wards, such as Castle and New Town and Christ Church, are geographically small but densely populated whereas the new village wards are vast.

Under the new political map every ward will serve about the same number of residents by 2020.

Before today's elections, there were 27 Conservative councillors, the biggest group on the council.

However, the council is run by a coalition of 20 Liberal Democrats, nine Labour and three Highwood Independent councillors. There is one vacancy on the council.

The Conservative, Independent and Labour councillors all supported the moves for a new system and the review.

The parties argued action needed to be taken to resolve the inequality of areas and the number of councillors.

The changes were, however, opposed by the Liberal Democrats.

Colchester Council's Lib Dem leader Paul Smith said: "We feel given the growth in population, there is more than enough work for the existing councillors to do.

"If they have 9,000 electors to look after, it will be even harder to combine being a councillor with paid employment."

Voters will be able to choose three candidates and will be asked to show their preferences by crossing the relevant boxes.

They can also vote for who they want to serve as Essex's next police and crime commissioner. In this election, however, voters will be asked to put their first and second choices.