Ukip is hoping to make gains after yesterday’s council election in Barking and Dagenham – but a confusingly named alternative party could put paid to their ambitions if one woman’s experience is anything to go by.

The 66-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, intended to vote for Ukip at Five Elms Primary School in Wood Lane, Dagenham.

“At the top of the slip there is a party called UK/EPP and I, by error, put a mark there,” she said.

UK/EPP is the European People’s Party, a small group of pro-Europe conservatives.

“When I realised what I’d done I went away and asked if I needed a different paper,” the voter told the Post.

“They said I should just cross it off and mark it as an error and vote for the party I wanted – Ukip.

“I did that and came home.”

But the Dagenham resident told the Post she was worried others wouldn’t spot the problem and could end up voting for the wrong party.

“Why is that allowed?” she said. “A stupid person like me has done it – a partially sighted person could do it.

”It’s really bad. People who want to vote Ukip will be voting for this other party. How many people have gone through and not been able to correct their vote?

“I realised, but others won’t.”

Read more:

Local elections 2014: Voting results to be announced in Barking and Dagenham