PEOPLE in North Oxfordshire who have been unresponsive to council contact will be told this week they have been removed from the electoral register.

Under national guidelines the elections team at Cherwell District Council is required to take an annual review of elector details.

People in North Oxfordshire who have failed to confirm or update the details during the 2016 annual canvass were sent final reminder letters in December.

Those who missed the final 14-day window to update their details will receive letters in the next few days advising them they have been removed from the electoral register.

James Doble, Cherwell's deputy electoral registration officer, said: "We have a duty to conduct an annual canvass in order to maintain an up-to-date register.

"Aside from the right to vote the register is used for jury selection and to perform credit checks for applications for things such as a mortgage, mobile phone contracts and credit cards. If details are not kept up to date this could affect individual credit ratings, and cause complications in the future."

The decision of whether or not to vote is a matter of personal choice in the UK but everyone aged 18 and over must be registered or risk a £1,000 fine.

Mr Doble added: "If a household does not respond, we use every effort to seek further clarification regarding the electors at the property.

"Those who have failed to notify us will be removed from the electoral register with immediate effect."

The deadline to be included on the register and be able to vote in the county council elections taking place on Thursday, May 4 is midnight on Thursday, April 13.

If anyone failed to respond but is still a resident at their address they need to re-register at gov.uk/register-to-vote.