A polling station had to be set up in a car in a North-east community – after voting officials found themselves locked out of their usual building.

Presiding officer Simone Evans set up the polling station in her car outside the Royal British Legion branch in Buckie, Moray, after she could not gain access to the hall.

She placed “polling station” notices in the windows of her Ford Galaxy and, with the ballot box on the front passenger seat, cleared the rear seat so that voters could have privacy to cast their vote.

Two early voters turned out to evote 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.”

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 respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.