Polls to elect councillors in 19 city council wards opened at 7am, with 113,000 people in Peterborough eligible to vote.

The results are expected to be announced by 1am tomorrow – three hours after the polls close.

Will you be voting? If not why not?
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A clutch of leading political figures face re-election, including Conservative council leader Cllr John Peach, deputy leader Cllr Stephen Goldspink, cabinet member for housing Cllr John Holdich, Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Nick Sandford and Independent group leader Cllr David Raines.

The turnout at last year's election was 36.5 per cent, meaning just one in three people on the electoral register turned out to vote.

There were wide variations between wards, with 54 per cent of people voting in Central ward, while the turnout in four wards – Fletton, Orton Longueville, Orton with Hampton and Paston – was lower than 28 per cent.

It has prompted a call from city leaders urging people to vote today.

Peterborough City Council chief executive and returning officer Gillian Beasley said: "It is important that as many people as possible cast their vote today and play their part in local democracy.

"The city council provides a wide range of services to its residents, which are central to their everyday lives, from refuse collection to education and other essential services. By casting their vote today, they can influence who controls the city council and therefore how services are provided, as well as how the city is shaped for the future."

Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson said: "As a former local councillor myself, I know that the work they undertake is vital.

They are the closest people to local electors and residents, and are often unsung.

"It is important to make use of democracy and go out and vote for who you think will be your best local representative."

And North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara added: "I would urge people to exercise their democratic right. Often, people write to me and complain about the political process, but I take the view that if people are not part of the process and do not vote, it reduces their authority to be critical of the system."

There are also elections for Huntingdonshire District Council, with 18 out of 52 seats up for election.