AN elderly couple may miss out on voting for the first time in nearly 60 years following an administrative error.

Frank and Patricia Ingrams, who are in their seventies, sent off both their applications for a postal vote in March, in the same envelope.

However, when they received no response, Mrs Ingrams visited Castle Point Council's offices. She was told she had been granted a postal vote but her husband, who suffers from heart and lung problems, had not.

To add to the problem, Mrs Ingrams did not receive her postal vote when she expected, and, if it arrives, will now have to deliver it to the polling station herself.

Her husband must also cast his vote in person.

Mrs Ingrams, of Broomfield, Hadleigh, said: "We decided to apply for a postal vote because this time last year we were both very ill, so we thought it would be better. I can't walk very well, but I can drive.

"We value our vote. We've never not voted and we have been together nearly 60 years.

"The worst bit is that my husband has a lot of problems with his hearing and he has to keep ringing up and it is causing him a lot of concern.

"It is like hitting your head against a brick wall. When you send two forms in the same envelope, how does one not get received?"

Mr Ingrams added: "I'm a partial invalid and I rely on my wife to drive me. I'm not going to be going up there in a scooter or anything like that.

"We are going to have to try and get up there."

John Riley, deputy returning officer at the council, would not comment on the Ingrams' case, but said: "If a postal vote application is received on time, we send out the postal vote by first-class post.

"On the rare occasions a person contacts us to let us know their postal vote has not arrived, we can cancel the original and issue a replacement.

"Valid forms can be delivered back to us any time before the election and, if necessary, residents can deliver their postal votes to us at their local polling station on election day."