ABOUT 200 voters were turned away from a polling station in Penistone yesterday after doors were closed, one disgusted woman says.

There were 'absolutely massive' queues outside St John's Community Centre all day.

Christine Appleby, 37, of Wentworth Mews, made it to St John's Community Centre, but was turned away when the clock struck 10pm.

She said: "Everyone has got the right to vote but mine was taken away because of bad organisation. It's disgusting."

Christine had travelled from Sunderland on Wednesday, where she was staying after the death of her grandmother on Monday.

She visited the community centre twice in the day but said the queues were even bigger so she went again about 9.30pm.

"I thought if I went a bit later on it would be quieter but it wasn't and I had to stay. We got inside but at about 10.02pm. They took the boxes away and closed the doors.

"One lady went up and asked why this had happened but was told to contact Sheffield City Council."

Christine said a student studying at Nottingham, who had returned to Penistone to vote, was also turned away.

She said there were only three people working at the community centre, one ticking names off lists, one handing out ballot slips and another posting them in the ballot box.

She added: ""I don't know if it's because of parliamentary boundaries or because of the economic climate but they should make provision for all the electorate turning out to vote.

"It doesn't seem like a fair result and makes a mockery of it.

"I'm a civil servant and didn't get to vote who is going to be giving me the work for the the next four years."

She said police were in attendance.

Voting in the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency was organised by Sheffield City Council.

John Mothersole, Acting Returning Officer, said: "Sheffield City Council would like to sincerely apologise to those voters who were unable to cast their vote last night.

"We were faced with a difficult situation of a rising turnout - over 10 per cent more than the last General Election - we accept we got it wrong at a few polling stations and appreciate this caused concern and upset for residents.

"We did have people turning up at polling stations without polling cards which meant it took longer to administer and impacted on others wanting to vote. We are sorry."

Turnout in Penistone and Stocksbridge was 67.9 per cent.

• Full reaction in next week's Penistone edition.