TWO election candidates were involved in a street confrontation prompted by an allegation of vote rigging.

Police were called to Blackburn's Bastwell ward when the dispute, which allegedly ended in violence, began over postal voting election packs.

The following day police called Tory candidate Hamid Khan, existing Labour councillor Mahfooz Hussain, party leaders and activists to a meeting and gained an assurance the incident would not be repeated.

Witnesses said a large crowd of people from both sides were involved in the incident last Saturday, while canvassers worked in Holly Street in the run-up to the forthcoming Blackburn with Darwen Council election.

The council leader Sir Bill Taylor and Conservative leader Colin Rigby confirmed there had been a dispute and police said there had been an incident caused by "voting tension."

A police spokesman said the dispute started over "an allegation of vote rigging" and that they had received an allegation of assault.

The spokesman added: "A number of people were spoken to but no arrests were made.

"A meeting was later held of the candidates and the leaders of their local parties to draw a line under the issue."

PS John Rigby added: "The matter has now been resolved and no further investigation will take place."

Sir Bill Taylor added: "I have made it clear to all my candidates that we should conduct this election in a peaceful manner. However, I accept that emotions can run high.

"There has been a reconciliation and it has been agreed that temperatures won't rise again."

Tory leader Colin Rigby said: "Our candidate said he saw a Labour activist carrying a number of election packs.

"He tried to take a photograph of the man and I am told a considerable number of people gathered and another one of our candidates called the police."

Today Hamid Khan said: "I was pushed and kicked and told to move after I tried to take a photograph of a man carrying postal voting forms.

"A big crowd was there telling me to clear off."

Mahfooz Hussain said: "I arrived to cool things down. I told our canvassers to go away and not to screw things up. A meeting was held to make sure candidates understood their responsibilities."