ALL-POSTAL voting should be scrapped after this year's European and local elections were marred by problems, the Electoral Commission insisted today.

Its independent report warned the government not to pursue future all-postal pilots and said electors should be given a choice of how to vote.

The report claimed the pilot in the North West and four other areas was successful in terms of increasing turnout.

But it said it also prompted complaints of voter fraud and organisational problems, including mis-placed ballot papers.

The pilot was given the go-ahead despite a House of Lords campaign led by Pendle peer Tony Greaves, who voiced concerns about the security of all postal pilots.

The government also rejected advice from the Commission itself, which warned against holding all-postal elections across the North West.

Today Lord Greaves said: "This is an unusual outbreak of common sense in high places and it is quite a brave thing for them to say."

Despite a number of high profile allegations of fraud in East Lancashire and other parts of the North West, the report said experts were unable to conclude whether the increased use of postal voting led to increases in malpractice.

This, the report added, was due to the fact that some returning officers had not completed post-election audits and that prosecutions could take up to two years.

Sam Younger, Chairman of The Electoral Commission said: "We remain committed to a goal of multi-channel elections, provided that levels of security and confidence can be maintained, working towards true 21st century democracy where electors choose the method, day and time to vote.

"However, the law and policy supporting remote voting methods need further reform before secure and convenient elections can be delivered." The Commission recommended new legislation be introduced to boost voter confidence. This, it said, should include making undue influence an offence and introducing a new offence relating to fraudulent completion of voting forms.

Turnout increased in the European Parliamentary elections to 41.46 per cent in the North West - approximately double that of the last European election in 1999.

Police in East Lancashire are still investigating allegations of fraud relating to this year's elections. They include Burnley where detectives are quizzing over 150 people about a complaint in Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward and a complaint relating to the Bastwell ward in Blackburn.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "It sounds like they have listened to what people said. I always thought postal voting was worth pursuing, but only as an option."

Blackburn with Darwen Council chief executive Phil Watson said: "In spite of the administrative difficulties of all out postal ballots, I am in favour, subject to the Commission taking on board the improvements suggested by the electoral professionals."