Voters in north Swindon will be able to mix casting a vote with a quick drink, if they so wish.

But the landlady of the pub becoming a polling station will make sure they don't have to if they don't wish.

Councillors on Swindon Borough Council's cabinet agreed unanimously to redraw the polling districts in St Andrew's Ward, with the effect that one of the districts needs a new polling station.

That will be situated in the Jovial Monk pub in Highdown Way.

Landlady Debbie Young said she was looking forward to it.

She said: "The council approached me to use the pub as a polling station. It's because we've got a large conservatory, and that's where the voting will be done, and it's quite big and we've got plenty of car parking."

The use of the conservatory means that Debbie won't have to open the mian body of the pub for early voters- polling stations are open from 7am on election days, while the pub opens at noon.

She said: "It'll all be set up the night before, and there's a separate entrance which will be used.

"It means that people who don't want to come in a pub- perhaps older women who might be put off - will still be able to come and vote."

But if some people do want to settle their nerves, or celebrate their choice with a drink before or after voting, Debbie, will, of course, welcome them.

She said: "I hope some will also come and buy a drink, of course.

"This is part of the diversification that we have to do in pubs these days to keep going.

"I let lots of community groups and clubs use the conservatory - with community clubs and halls going often there's nowhere for groups to go, and I think of this place as a community pub."

Although she has never done so before, Debbie added that if Arkell's brewery which owns the Jovial Monk decided to make a special election beer, she would definitely get some in for polling day.

The change has been made to make it easier for voters living north of Thamesdown Drive to get to vote and to drive up low turn-outs in the ward.