Outside Dumbarton's Knoxland Primary and Alexandria Community Centre, voters gathered on Thursday to have their say on what direction they think the council should go, and what sort of issues determined the direction of their vote.

Twins Daniel and Russell Miller, both 22, said their decisions were motivated by national issues.

Russell said: "It's more about the referendum for me, as Labour have said that they're not going for it, so I think I'll go for that. I've not seen that much of the councillors around, a few leaflets, but not much."

Daniel added: "I've not heard that much from them either. I think they do care what younger voters like ourselves think, but maybe they don't express that well or often enough."

This focus on national issues was also echoed by Kevin Jackman, 48, who said: "It's all about the cuts really. They have been constantly happening since the Tories got in to power. "We need shot of them and get a chance at a second referendum."

However, others said they voted purely on local issues and had high hopes for the new crop of potential councillors.

Anne Crombie, 70, said: "In a local election, it's really about what people on the council said they are going to try and achieve, and I try not to let politics get in the way too much of what's actually best for the town.

"It's about what candidates are actually prepared to do, and stand up for keeping things in the town."

The quiet pace of voters through the afternoon has not deterred campaigners, all eager to connect with those casting their ballots and hoping to see success for the parties and candidates that they represent.

One of the campaigners outside Knoxland Primary was 67-year-old Mary Marra, who was outside the polling station trying to convince last-minute undecideds to vote Labour.

She said: "I was here from 8am to about 11am this morning and it was slow and steady. Everybody's been very friendly and polite as they've been coming in to vote.

"I've been particularly glad to see quite a lot of younger people coming in to vote. I was worried it might just be older people voting in these council elections and I think it will get busier again later on."