Electors in Swindon will be leading the country when they cast their votes using the latest touch screen technology tomorrow.

The experiment, costing £50,000 and funded by central government, is allowing voters in Swindon Borough Council's Central and Western wards to try out the American system without the need to fumble with paper and pencils.

Residents of nine sheltered housing complexes in the wards will also be able to vote on screen at home.

The official polling day is Thursday , when traditional methods take over. But a new counting machine will be used to collate all the votes at the Civic Centre that evening.

Electronic voting stations will be at Even Swindon Community Centre in Jennings Street, from 8am to 6pm on Wednesday, for those in the Western ward.

Central ward electors can go to the Central Area Community Centre in Emlyn Square, which will be open at the same time