Only one in six Conservative members voted in a ballot on William Hague's pre-manifesto document, party chiefs have confirmed.

Some 16.67% of members to whom ballot papers were sent responded, a figure that will disappoint party strategists.

But of those who did cast a vote, nearly 99% (49,932) backed the proposals in the document, an overwhelming endorsement.

About 300,000 ballot papers were sent out to members, of which 50,508 were returned.

The document, Believing in Britain, launched last month, outlines 100 Tory policies on issues such as keeping the pound, tackling illicit asylum-seeking and clamping down on crime.

It will form the basis of the Tory manifesto in the next general election.

Lower turnout

The results of the ballot were declared as the party's annual conference opened in Bournemouth on Monday.

Party sources said they believed the low turnout was because most party members saw the result as a foregone conclusion.

It was a much lower turnout than in previous ballots under Mr Hague's leadership, but produced a higher proportion of yes votes.

In 1997, a vote on his leadership and principles for change saw a turnout of 45.1%, with 80.8% backing him.

And in 1998, a ballot on Mr Hague's policy on the euro produced a turnout of 58.9%, with 84.4% of members backing him.