The Electoral Commission has claimed the public is more interested in politics than is portrayed.

The elections body published new research on Thursday which it used to argue that 14.5 million "political conversations" take place in Britain every day.

With turnout declining in recent elections, commentators have concluded that public is losing interest in the political process.

But the survey showed that local issues particularly are still very much in voters' minds.

However while only one per cent of respondents said they would air their views at a political meeting, the Commission claimed dialogues over the use of power are "alive and well" in communities.

More than a third of adults discuss politics at home, while a quarter do so at work and 10 per cent take part in debates in their local pub, according to the research.

Commission chairman Sam Younger said voters should use the local and European elections next week to turn these views into votes.

"This research shows that political discussion is alive and well, particularly when it comes to the local issues that affect us every day," he said.

"On 10 June, individuals can make those conversations they've had over the year count by casting their votes and influencing those issues that matter most to them."