TURNOUT for the elections in Worcestershire smashed through the national average last week - with voters heading to the polls in their droves.

All three parliamentary constituencies in Worcester, West Worcestershire and Mid-Worcestershire beat the UK figure of 66 per cent.

The best performing area was West Worcestershire, which recorded a whopping 73.7 per cent turnout last Thursday, nearly eight per cent above the national average as Tory Harriett Baldwin retained her seat.

Mid-Worcestershire's turnout was 71 per cent, where Conservative Nigel Huddleston was elected for the first time, while Worcester also managed to beat the national average with a 69 per cent turnout for Robin Walker's victory.

Across the county, the only constituency where turnout dipped below the national average was the Wyre Forest at 64 per cent, where Tory Mark Garnier was re-elected.

During last Thursday evening huge queues had built up around some polling stations in the Wyre Forest, with some councillors calling for a review over it.

In common with the rest of the country, the General Election led to turnout for the council contests across Worcestershire virtually doubling.

Across the county, most wards recorded between 65 and 74 per cent turnouts for council wards.

The best council turnout in Worcester where the 74 per cent in St Peter's, where Councillor Roger Knight was re-elected for the Conservatives with a majority of nearly 1,300 votes.

* The turnout for the 2010 General Election was 65 per cent.