STAY-at-home voters in part of Caldicot meant the area had the lowest turnout in Monmouthshire for last week's Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Just 53 of the 1,500 people in the Dewstow ward eligible to take part in the election for a new police chief for Gwent turned out to cast their votes.

That is a turn-out rate of just four per cent compared with an overall rate for the force area of 14.2 per cent.

Independent candidate and former Gwent policeman Ian Johnston won ahead of Labour candidate Hamish Sandison.

Local county councillor Tony Easson said the most worrying part was that people with postal votes had not taken part.

He said: "There are 250 postal votes in the ward and if they are not voting then you've really got problems."

Councillor Easson said he had put leaflets out on behalf of Mr Sandison but there was little enthusiasm on the doorstep for the election.

He said: "People didn't really understand what it was for and I think there was quite a bit of apathy."

One reason for the low turn-out may have been the location of the only polling station - at Welsh-medium school Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin in Sandy Lane.

Councillor Easson said: "It is right at the top of Sandy Lane and that might have put some people off going from the other end of the ward."

One stay-at-home voter, who asked not to be named, said a lack of information and potentially having a politician in charge of the police put her off.

She said: "I didn't really understand what the commissioner will do. Will he replace the chief constable?

"There just wasn't enough information to be able to make a proper choice. You could put your X in any of the boxes and not really know what you are getting.

"I didn't like the idea of putting a politician in charge of the police."

The new commissioner takes over from the Gwent Police Authority and is responsible for holding the police to account.

Gwent Police Chief Constable Carmel Napier said: "I extend my congratulations to Ian following his election as Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.

"The officers and staff of Gwent Police look forward to working closely with him as we get on with the work of cutting crime, protecting and reassuring our communities and meeting the challenges of economic austerity."

Gwent Police Authority chair Cilla Davies added: "Gwent Police Authority members and staff have worked hard over the years to represent the people of Gwent and ensure Gwent Police provided the best possible service.

"The role will no doubt be challenging but I believe we will be handing over a strong and positive legacy in the shape of a police force which is made up of very dedicated officers and staff who together are one of the best performing police forces in the UK."