A woman has been given a last-minute reprieve after a council error almost stopped her being able to vote.

Minoo Esat moved to her new home in Bramley Road, Oakwood six months ago, and registered to vote at her address. However when the voting cards were sent out for the EU referendum, while her husband and daughter got them she did not.

In a letter from Enfield Council, she was told she needed to produce proof of her ID at the civic centre by Tuesday, June 21, but when she turned up on the day, she was told the date was an error and she should have done it by June 17 – meaning she had missed the deadline.

She has now been allowed to vote after making an official complaint to the council, contacting her MP, David Burrowes, and after the intervention of Enfield Council chief executive Rob Leak, but Dr Esat, who describes herself as “very politically active”, said she was still very annoyed by the mistake.

She said: “They were denying my democratic right, this is a historic event. General and mayoral elections are important and these take place every five years. The EU vote takes place every 50 years.

“I am very bitter, I was given false information and I think it is quite arrogant of the council to think they can just say sorry.”

Dr Esat declined to say which way she would vote.

Enfield Council spokesperson Andrew Golder said: “Whilst the letter sent by the council seeking further details from Dr Esat in relation to her application was correct in terms of the registration timescales provided, however the Electoral Registration Officer has recognised that the letter did not include any specific details on the deadline needing to be met in terms of inclusion on the final register for the EU Referendum.

"Given this error, Dr Esat’s status has been updated, allowing her inclusion on the register and the ability to vote today."