POLLING stations across our region are open today for you to cast your vote in the local elections. Before you start yawning, listen up.

You may not have a very high opinion of politicians.

You may be sick and tired of all the bickering and point-scoring that goes on as election day approaches.

You may sniff, and think these are only local elections anyway so they don't matter.

You'd be wrong.

Arguably, who your local councillor is matters to you and your loved ones far more than who your MP is.

It is local councils that run the vast majority of the public services that affect your day-to-day life.

Local schools, services for the elderly, public sports facilities, residents' parking - all are run by your council.

The council cleans the streets, decides whether or not the empty plot of land next door can be turned into a block of flats - and sets the council tax you will have to pay next year.

If you think none of those things matter, then there must be something wrong with you.

Who you vote for today is entirely up to you. The important thing is that you do vote.

We want a council that is run by people who represent the views of the majority of people in this city. We don't want one that is managed by a group elected by a minority of those with the strongest opinions - which is what may happen if you don't exercise your voting right.

Apathy is the enemy of democracy.

It will be no use complaining tomorrow that you don't like the complexion of the council, if you didn't bother to make the short journey to a polling station today.

You have a vote. You're lucky. Use it.