With local elections due next year, residents are being urged to put their name on the electoral register to avoid missing out on their vote.

Some 240,000 people in Croydon have the right to vote in regional, national and European elections, and the council elections to be held on May 4, 2006.

Anyone wanting to vote must be on Croydon Council's register of electors, which is compiled annually.

Failure not only means missing out on voting and jeopardising prospects of getting credit, it is also against the law and could lead to a £1,000 fine.

British, Commonwealth and Irish Republic citizens who will be resident at their Croydon address on October 15 need to register.

All 16 and 17-year-olds who will be 18 on or before November 30, 2006, need to register as does anyone away from home temporarily and European citizens who can be local Government electors.

Registration forms will be sent out in the next few weeks and the information can be returned to the council by telephone, internet, post, email or fax.

For more information call 020 8760 5591.