These were the European elections across the UK on Thursday, when fewer than one in four people bothered to vote, according to initial indications.

This was only a week since thousands of people in South Africa queued for hours for what they saw as the privilege of casting their vote in the country's general election.

Although counting in the UK does not take place until Sunday, already observers say the turnout is more shocking than any results could be.

The proportion of those eligible who voted ranged from just over 30% - one in three people - in a handful of areas down to a dismal 10% turnout in the Liverpool Riverside constituency.

In one part of Sunderland, the Hope House Community Church, only 15 people out of 1,000 - eligible - 1.5% - actually cast a vote.

In Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency, in the North East, only 21% of those eligible to vote made use of the chance.

The region which recorded the highest figure was Wales, where just over one in four people - 28% - voted. The lowest turnout there was in Swansea East, which recorded 18%.

At national general elections in the UK, about three-quarters of those who can vote, usually do so. But European elections have traditionally been greeted with apathy by the British. In 1994, 37% turned out, the third lowest figure in Europe.

'What we feared'

Labour's campaigns chief, Commons leader Margaret Beckett, told BBC Radio 4: "I think everybody must be worried by the turnout. It is what we feared and what we tried to urge against from the beginning.

"But what I do notice was that the last time we had Euro elections, the turnout was lower than the turnout for the local elections which preceded them and we have seen the same phenomenon this time."

But is it apathy, as generally assumed, or are there other reasons why people fail to vote?

The most likely explanation is that, despite the heated debate over the future of the pound, most people still consider Europe too distant and irrelevant to their lives.

Parties put off voters

But a lack of interest in Europe cannot be blamed as the sole cause. In Thursday's by-election in Leeds Central, turnout was less than 20% - the lowest in the UK since World War II. The winner, Hilary Benn, said the figure was something all parties should be concerned about.

Another factor in deterring voters may have been last month's elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly as well as local councils, leaving a trail of public fatigue.

Tony Blair was in a minority when he voted

It may be that some just did not realise what was happening on Thursday. Mrs Beckett partly blamed the fact there were so many other big stories, such as Kosovo, dominating the news.

Cynical observers say the main parties deliberately did not draw too much attention to the Euro elections.

The Tories feared it would highlight their own internal problems over Europe. The party is as divided as ever over Europe, with William Hague facing challenges from both Eurosceptic and Europhile wings.

Instead, Mr Hague tried to turn the spotlight on the government's discomfort by challenging the prime minister to a debate on the euro.

The single currency was one reason, say the cynical, why Tony Blair did not want to draw attention to Europe. He fears the fall of the euro on the money markets will hit Labour's standing. Ministers are also nervous of a backlash from a Eurosceptic public if they do head towards monetary union.

In the first few days of the campaign Mr Blair even appeared to be backing away from his plan to hold a referendum on joining the euro immediately after the next election - assuming Labour wins. But he was later forced to re-confirm the pledge after claims he was running scared in the face of public opinion.

Voters' motivation was also undermined by the fraud scandal which rocked the European Commission and led to the sacking of all the commissioners.

In addition, many observers believe voting is simply too difficult. In some countries, voting is compulsory by law. The government is highly unlikely to follow that path, but it is looking at ways of encouraging people to take part. These include telephone voting, placing polling booths in supermarkets and changing the day on which on which elections are held.

Whatever the reasons - whether people don't believe their vote would count, whether they think Europe is irrelevant or whether they simply don't have time to go to the polling station - politicians agree it is a negative trend.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Richard Allan believes the implications for democracy are worrying.

"It's very depressing. The contrast is immense when you see people in South Africa queuing up for hours to vote, and we've been at war with Serbia - part of the reason for that is it's not a democratic country - while at home we can't be bothered."

Many children do not know what a politician is, says Richard Allen

Mr Allan believes practical changes in the voting system would help, together with a cultural shift to encourage more people to value their right to vote.

"We could have weekend voting - Thursday polling is stupid because a lot of people are working and don't have time. We could also have more obvious polling stations, such as supermarkets, and more accessible postal votes - there are lots of things which would improve turnout.

"A cultural change would be very helpful. I go to many schools, and kids don't know what a politician is. We must make politics more relevant to them at an early age or they're in danger of thinking it's only for old people.