Thousands of parents are having to find alternative childcare as almost 20 schools prepare to close for polling day.

At least 19 schools out of 26 that will be used as polling stations for next Thursday's General Election in Brighton and Hove, will be closed to pupils.

While many parents can arrange for family or friends to look after their children, others are not so fortunate.

Sarah Kidston, whose son Joshua, four, attends Westdene Primary School, said she was finding it difficult to find a childminder and thought she would end up having to take the day off work.

Miss Kidston, 22, from Peacehaven, said: "I don't have any family that can help out. I have tried nurseries where Joshua used to go but now he's too old and childminders are often too expensive.

"There must be so many other places that could be used instead, such as churches or town halls, rather than closing schools. They managed to keep the school open during the strikes so why can't they sort something out for this?"

Kate Scott, whose eldest daughter Ava, eight, goes to Stanford Junior School, which is also closing for the day, said: "I am very lucky because my husband Neil works from home three days a week. However, I'm sure if you are a single parent who works it would be terrible."

Westdene headteacher Debbie Crossingham, said: "We had already booked the day off as an inset day. We knew a long time ago that this would happen and we let parents know.

"I think it's important to encourage as many people as possible to exercise their right to vote and that means having polling stations at the centre of the community and within walking distance, which schools are."

Stanford headteacher Martin Thorn said the school was not normally used during elections but because of the Brighton Festival a nearby hall was already in use and so the school had to act as a polling station instead.

He said: "It is a nuisance because we hadn't planned on it and did not know about it in advance like a lot of schools."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "We can use church halls and village halls if they will let us but if they don't, for whatever reason, we can't.

"If there is another building available we will use it rather than inconvenience the school but sometimes there is no alternative."