BY-ELECTIONS to replace two Burnley councillors will take place after voters requested to go to the polls.

Two of Burnley Council's 45 seats are currently vacant following the disqualification of Liberal Democrat Mozaquir Ali for vote rigging and the death of Labour member Coun Donald Hall.

The council last week advertised the seats in the former councillors' respective wards of Daneshouse with Stoneyholme and Brunshaw. Now after the required two electors in the borough wrote to the council to request the posts be contested by-elections will be held.

The request came from Labour Party representatives. Under the authority's rules a by-election has to be held within 35 working days of the receipt of the letters, which would be Wednesday, February 21. However, because elections are traditionally held on a Thursday it is expected voters in the two wards will go to the polls on February 15.

The main political parties are now finalising their candidates.

Alison Morville, Burnley Council's elections officer, said: "Burnley Council has advertised vacant seats in Daneshouse with Stoneyholme and Brunshaw wards following the disqualification of Coun Mozaquir Ali (LibDem, Daneshouse with Stoneyholme) and the death of Coun Donald Hall (Lab, Brunshaw).

"Two electors from the borough have written to the council asking for a by-election to fill the vacancies. The by-elections have to be held within 35 working days from receipt of the letters."

Ali, of Brougham Street, Burnley, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the returning officer following a trial at Preston Crown Court last year. He was booted off the council when he failed to appeal against his conviction for which he was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

His co-accussed Manzur Hussain, of Milner Street, is still a councillor for Daneshouse and Stoneyholme, despite also serving 18 months, because he appealed against his conviction.

Coun Hall, a long-serving councillor and former paratrooper, died last month, aged 59, after suffering a heart attack.

He leaves a wife of 29 years Margaret and a daughter Kimberley.