IN BEXLEY the turnout is predicted to be very high.

There were long queues at many of the polling stations and business was brisk all day.

One polling station estimated a 96 per cent turnout but despite the volume of voters there were no problems at any of the polling stations and no voters were turned away.

As a result of the high turnout the initial verification count at Crook Log leisure centre in Bexleyheath is taking much longer than predicted.

It is estimated the counting of the votes cast for each candidate will not begin until at least 1.30am.