Four-year-old boy receives polling card - and his first junk mail

A boy of four who received a polling card was refused entry to cast his vote yesterday.

A boy of four who received a polling card was refused entry to cast his vote yesterday.

Jamie Gribbon, of Weston-super-Mare, received his polling card two weeks ago from North Somerset council.

Jamie's mother, Sue Palmer, said her son was refused entry to the polling station at Maltlands community centre when she went to cast her vote this morning.

The 31-year-old single mother said: "I have no idea how this has happened as my son is only four years old. It is quite amusing really, but there is a serious side. His details are now available on the electoral register so he will be sent junk mail in the post."

He has already received a letter from a bank and a car finance company, along with election campaign material from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

As with most four-year-olds, Ms Palmer said Jamie had no interest in politics but that he knew who Tony Blair was. She said: "He can tell you who the Prime Minister is, which is amazing as some adults don't have a clue!"

Jamie's father, Steven, who is divorced from Ms Palmer, said he would be voting today, but was "definitely not a political animal".

He said: "It is not good that Jamie has received a polling card, but mistakes happen and I'm not sure what all the fuss is about."

A spokeswoman for North Somerset council admitted that the card was sent out in error. "Polling cards are sent out based on information provided by households. Clearly this is a mistake, probably made by the household," she said.