THE government has announced that May's local and mayoral elections in England will be postponed for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Election in Thurrock were due to take place in May.

It comes after the Electoral Commission said on Thursday the polls should be delayed until the autumn to "mitigate" the impact of the virus.

The polling watchdog had said there were "growing risks" to the delivery of the polls, due on 7 May.

Ten people have died with the virus, with 798 cases confirmed UK-wide.

Downing Street said it would be impractical to go ahead with the elections as planned, as they would come during the peak of the spread of the virus.

Voting had also been due to take place in Thurrock for the Essex police and crime commissioner. That is all off.