Two pubs, a caravan and a garden centre are among the less-conventional places where votes in the Winchester district will be cast in next Thursday's European and local elections.

Around 8,000 people have applied for postal votes - some three times more than last year when it was district council elections only.

Most voters will receive two ballot papers - but residents of Compton and Shawford, Southwick and Widley and Boarhunt will have a third paper as they are being asked to select parish council members.

Voters at Tichborne, near Alresford, won't have far to go for a pint afterwards because the polling station is at the Tichborne Arms.

It will also be "two pints and a ballot paper please" at The March Hare in Harestock, Winchester.

Another unusual polling station will be Garsons Garden Centre at Titchfield, near Fareham.

But there are no such on-site incentives for the electorate at Itchen Stoke, near Alresford, where a humble caravan will be provided for voting. Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm.

Candidates will have the rare chance of an early night after the rigours of election day because the ballot boxes will be sealed until Friday morning.

The first local council results are anticipated shortly after midday.

Votes for the European elections will not be counted until Sunday evening.

The results will be telephoned to Oxford where the declaration for the South-East England region will be made.

The share of the vote polled by each party in the Winchester district will be made available at the Guildhall after the declaration.