AFTER weeks of campaigning, candidates have just a few remaining hours to sway voters minds as they head to the polls in Hampshire's local elections.

Five councils - Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester, Test Valley and New Forest - are holding elections today.

Polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm.

However, only Southampton and Eastleigh are counting overnight as election officials in the other councils get jitters over having to verify postal votes with untested scanning techniques under new anti-fraud rules.

It remains to be seen whether pressing local issues will trump the often cited claim that the local elections are a referendum on the popularity of the national government.

Deadlocked Southampton remains the most likely council to see a swing in the balance of power, while all-seat elections in Tory held New Forest and Test Valley councils can always throw up a surprise.

Lib Dems in Winchester face a tough task to reel in the Conservatives with only one third of seats up for election.