More than 100 people were not able to vote in Trafford Council's local elections due to Voter ID requirements.

Around 32,000 people attended polling stations across the area when the polls opened earlier this month.

Overall, 99.6 per cent were able to vote after showing an acceptable form of ID. The turnout in the Trafford Council's local elections was 39.6 per cent, down around one percentage point on last year.

However, 0.4 per cent were not able to vote after showing no acceptable form of ID. This is 130 people.

READ MORE: Tories lose out in the Trafford Council local elections.

Shaun Ennis, a Lib Dem councillor for Timperley Central, said the data was not representative of the impact of Voter ID requirements on the turnout.

He said some people, in particular in areas like The Broomwood, did not attend polling stations at all due to an additional barrier to their involvement.

Messenger Newspapers: Shaun Ennis (left) said the data was not representative

Cllr Ennis said: "I know of people in Timperley who realised too late, through no fault of their own, they were unable to vote this year because the Conservative Government introduced Voter ID requirements. They simply stayed home. 

"So, while those people won’t show in the council’s statistics, they are eligible voters who have been denied the right to vote by a cynical government."

READ MORE: Trafford Council local elections – the list of results.

Sara Todd, chief executive of Trafford Council and returning officer in the local elections, said: "It is disappointing to turn anyone away but we have to comply with the regulations. We carried out a lot of work to raise awareness of Voter ID requirements. This included a letter to every household, advertisements in the local media, as well as campaigns on social media.

"We will continue to raise awareness throughout the year ahead of the next election. Voting is one of the most important things residents can do so we want to make sure as many people as possible can vote."

The Conservative Group lost three seats on the authority when the results were announced at Old Trafford, with the Green Group and the Liberal Democrats taking seats from it in the villages of Hale and Timperley.

It could have been worse for the Conservative Group, with the same rivals running it close in its other strongholds in the south. 

It won a seat in Broadheath Ward but lost a seat in Brooklands Ward, with the Labour Group running it close in Manor Ward too.

The Labour Group, which reclaimed the seat it lost when one of its councillors became an independent last year, remained in overall control. 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.