POLITICIANS feared the worst but for most it was the stuff of nightmares as Cambridgeshire stayed home for yesterday’s poll to elect its first �70,000 a year police commissioner.

By the narrowest of margins East Cambs beat Fenland to achieving the lowest turn out across the county- just 12.93 per cent of the district turning up to vote.

In Fenland marginally more – 12.98 per cent- voted but these have easily and by far been the worst statistics of any national vote ever.

Cambridgeshire as a whole achieved an average 15.9 per cent turn out, boosted by the 17.45 per cent turn out in Peterborough. Undoubtedly the voting in Peterborough was helped by the fact both independent candidates come from the city as well as the Labour candidate who is a sitting councillor.

In Cambridge 14.69 per cent of those able to vote did so, whilst South Cambs did marginally better with a turn out of 15.9 per cent.

In Huntingdonshire the turn out was 15.31 per cent.

Verification of the votes took place late last night but counting begins today at noon.

Counting is taking place in a sports hall in Soham and the result could be announced as early as 3pm.

Tory candidate Sir Graham Bright is widely tipped to win the election.

I understand that if elected he will appoint former county council leader Shona Johnstone- the woman he beat for his party’s nomination- to be part of his team. She has supported him throughout the campaign and the price of that loyalty is expected to be the job of deputy.