Voters in Moray were shocked this morning to discover their usual polling station had been replaced with the back seat of a car.
Election staff were forced to improvise after turning up for the 7am start to find the Royal British Legion branch in Buckie locked.
Presiding officer Simone Evans set up a makeshift station on the back seat of her Ford Galaxy, putting ‘polling station’ notices in the windows.
She then placed the ballot box on the front passenger seat and cleared the rear seating so voters could have privacy to cast their vote.
Two early voters turned out to exercise their democratic right in the back of the car before the legion’s caretaking staff turned up to open the building.
Moray’s depute returning officer, Moira Patrick, praised Mrs Evans for her quick thinking.
“She did exactly what all our elections staff are trained to do in the event of not being able to gain access to a polling place for whatever reason,” said Mrs Patrick.
“It is part of their training but as far as I can recall this is only the second time it has ever had to be put into practice.”
The reason for the building not being accessible in time for the polls opening at 7am was not immediately clear.
Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west.
The council and its 4,500 employees are responsible for the needs of more than 95,000 residents.