D-DAY is almost here at Worcestershire County Council - with the polls opening for the local elections from 7am tomorrow.

After months of campaigning, more than 445,000 voters across Worcestershire will be able to have their say on which party controls County Hall for the first time since 2013.

The stakes could hardly be higher, with the council spending £1 million of your money every single day on hugely important services like roads, public transport, education and social care for vulnerable adults and children.

The biggest and most important public services are controlled by the county council, making your vote crucial.

There are 57 seats up for grabs, with the Conservative administration holding 32 of them, an overall majority of seven.

Labour is the biggest opposition party, holding 11 seats, with the Lib Dems on four, Green Party on two, two held by UKIP and six affiliated to no major party.

It means despite the Tories being by far the largest party, only a small swing in votes would be enough to tip the council into 'no overall control'.

With the clock winding down, election officials yesterday urged people to use their democratic right to get out and have their say.

Simon Mallinson, the returning officer, said: "Worcestershire County Council spends a net budget of around £320 million each year on services that affect local residents and the local economy - from highways to libraries, public health, education and social care.

Malvern Gazette:

"Our elections take place every four years, so your vote is important to help shape the council and its services between now and 2021.

"I would encourage everyone who is registered to vote to make sure they use it."

Residents who are registered to vote will have got a polling card by now, telling them where their nearest polling station is, while postal ballot packs have also already gone out.

For people unable to vote due to unforeseen health reasons, an 'emergency' proxy vote can be applied for up until 5pm tomorrow, by contacting your district council's elections office.

Polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm tomorrow, before counting takes place from 10am on Friday across six different venues in Worcester, Malvern, Wychavon, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove and Redditch.