Those who want to be able to vote in Swindon in the coming local elections but are not registered should get their skates on.

Elections are being held on May 6 for members of Swindon Borough Council, members of the town's parish councils and a new Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire. The deadline to register to vote is Monday (April 19).

Registering to vote at gov.uk/register-to-vote takes about five minutes. People will be asked for a National Insurance number but can still register if they don't have one.

Their name and address will appear on the electoral register.

Once registered, there is still time to get a postal or proxy vote

To get a new or changed postal vote, an application needs to be made by the end of Tuesday April 20.

For those who want a proxy vote – where a trusted friend or relative goes to the polling station and casts a vote on their behalf – an application needs to be made by April 27.

The government is asking that as many people as possible register for a postal vote to help with safety at polling stations on the day.

To apply to vote by post, as long as you are already registered to vote, visit swindon.gov.uk sand put postal vote in the search box.

Those voters who want to go to the polling station will be asked to take along their own pen or pencil.