SCOTTISH Borders Council is going an extra mile to ensure constituents can cast their vote at the general election this week.

In an effort to help voters in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency, who have been affected by the delay in receiving their postal votes, the local authority will open drop-in facilities across the Borders to allow postal voters to either pick up a pack in person or hand in completed postal votes.

Those that require a replacement postal vote can pick up a pack in person at the council's HQ in Newtown St Boswells up until 5pm on Thursday (July 4). The facility will be open from 8.30am-5.00pm. This is the only place where replacement postal votes can be re-issued.

Voters should take photographic identification and proof of address with them when they attend.

Only voters from Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk will be issued replacements. Any electors for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale should contact Dumfries and Galloway Council for a replacement.

A council spokesperson said: "Your vote pack may still be in the post and be delivered this week. Please only attend if you have not yet received your postal vote and you will not be at home this week to receive it.

"Voters who have applied for a postal vote that has not yet been received cannot vote in person on Thursday as they will be recorded on the electoral register as a postal voter. They must apply for a replacement postal vote to cast their ballot. Replacements are available from council HQ up until 5pm on July 4."

As well as returning postal votes via Royal Mail, voters can also go to council HQ from 8.30am to 5.00pm or attend one of the following contact centres:

Galashiels – 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm

Hawick – 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm

Duns – Monday: 12.30pm-5pm; Tue: 12.30pm-6pm; and Thurs: 9.30am-12.30pm

Kelso – Monday: 10am-4pm; Tue: 12.30pm-6pm; and Thurs: 9.30am-12.30pm

Please note a form will need to be completed if returning postal votes by hand.

By law, you can only hand-in your own postal vote and up to five others.

Postal votes can also be returned to a polling station in the constituency up to the close of poll at 10pm on July 4.