People who want to vote in the upcoming local elections are being urged to ensure they are properly registered to do so.

Residents across Leicestershire will be casting their votes on Thursday, May 4 to decide who runs their local councils.

But the deadline to register to vote looms and councils are calling on people to make sure they are all set for election day in plenty of time.

Anyone who wants to vote must have registered before Monday, April 17. This can be done on the government website or through a requested paper form.

Those who would like to submit a postal vote must apply to do so by 5pm on Tuesday, April 18.

This requires voters to send a form that can be found on the government website to a local electoral registration office.

Also, these are the first elections in recent history which require voters to bring photo ID to prove who they are. If a person doesn't bring an approved form of ID, they will not be allowed to vote.

The documents which can be used at polling stations include passports, driving licences, blue badges, certain travel cards and national identity cards.

Voters who don't have ID can apply for a 'voter authority certificate' either on the government website or by filling in application form at their local council.

The deadline to apply for these certificates is 5pm on Tuesday, April 25.

In Ashby, there will be town council and district council elections.

Miranda Cannon, returning officer for Leicester City Council, said: "The local elections taking place on May 4 are fast approaching, and I would urge voters who want to take part to ensure they are able to do so.

"I would encourage people to check they are registered and make they have given in any applications they need to be able to vote.

"The local elections are a chance for everyone in the city to make their voices heard, and we don't want anyone to find themselves in a position where they want to vote but are unable to do so."

The full list of accepted forms of ID:

• Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state
• A Blue Badge
• Older Person's Bus Pass
• Disabled Person's Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Scottish National Entitlement Card
• 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric immigration document
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• Voter Authority Certificate
• Anonymous Elector's Document