Postal voters in today’s election may not have received their ballot paper due to Royal Mail strikes, the council has warned.

Brighton and Hove City Council said some people who would normally receive their voting packs by post may not have done so as a result of the latest round of industrial action by postal workers.

While the extent of the postal vote disruption is unknown, some residents are now being forced to have their voting packs re-issued and collected in person.

A council spokesman said: “We are aware that some electors in Wish ward may not have received their postal voting packs.

“If they haven’t they should contact the Electoral Services office on 01273 29199 or electors@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

“Our electoral services team can offer advice on how a pack can be re-issued. Re-issues are only legally available until 5pm today and must be collected in person.

“If a postal voter in Wish ward has not yet returned their completed pack then they can return this to Hove Town Hall or a local polling station up until close of poll – 10pm today.”

Postal voters cannot be issued ballot papers at polling stations due to the risk of electoral fraud.

Voting packs were originally released on November 22, which was before the latest round of industrial action.

Some 20 voting packs have so far been re-issued.

Voters were urged to contact the Electoral Services team if their postal voting pack had not arrived by Friday, December 2.

The Wish ward by-election is being held after the death of long-standing councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn, 79, who was first elected over 50 years ago.

Councillor Peltzer Dunn also served as mayor of Brighton and Hove for a year in May 2008.

Five candidates are running in the by-election from Labour, Ukip, the Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats and Green Party.

Polling stations in Wish ward can be found at:

• St Leonard’s Church Hall, Glebe Villas

• Wish Road Pavilion, Aldrington Recreational Ground, Wish Road

• Holy Cross Church Hall, Tamworth Road

• Sanders House Communal Room, Ingram Crescent West.