A war veteran will not be able to vote for the first time because Maidstone council seemingly failed to send him a ballot paper.

Eric Bertram, of Wagoners Close in Weavering, followed the US forces through Europe in the fight against the Nazis and has voted at every election since - until now.

The 89-year-old, who is now registered blind, applied for a postal vote but says he never received the right documents from the council.

He said: “I am absolutely beside myself at what’s happening and the way this has been dealt with by the council.

“There’s no way I can vote now, I feel I am not doing my duty.

“It has caused a great deal of stress. How can they say the postal vote is safe? It does not work properly.”

A Maidstone council spokesman said the council had definitely sent him the correct paperwork, suggesting either Royal Mail failed to post it or Mr Bertram had misplaced it.

In response Mr Bertram said: “The council may say they have sent it but they are wrong. I did not receive it.”

The war veteran is not alone in his disappointment.

Yesterday people waited for up to two hours at Maidstone council's offices to try and get the correct paperwork.