AN investigation has been launched into claims that an election candidate's nomination papers contained a false signature.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's returning officer Phil Watson is to call in police after receiving a complaint about Lib Dem Ghazanfar Khan.

It is understood that a signature of one of the nominees on his papers for Blackburn's Wensley Fold ward belonged to a man who had been out of the country for a number of weeks.

Today Lib Dem leader Coun Paul Browne said the matter was "a genuine mistake" and blamed "cultural differences."

He said Mr Khan believed it was legitimate for a wife to sign nomination papers on behalf of her husband.

The signature is believed to have been spotted by a serving councillor, who reported the matter to the Town Hall.

Mr Watson said: "A nomination paper was received and accepted, as it met the appropriate requirements.

"Subsequently it was suggested that a signature on the form was not genuine. I will be referring this matter to the police."

Mr Watson said because Mr Khan's name was not removed from a list of candidates before a cut off deadline on Wednesday, election law prevented him from removing his name from the election list.

However, if he is elected he could be asked to stand down and a by-election would have to be held.

Mr Khan, who lives in Rothesay Road, Blackburn, was unavailable for comment.

Lib Dems had said they were confident of making gains in the postal election on June 10.

Coun Browne added: "What happened was obviously unacceptable, but you can be assured there was nothing underhand.

"It was just a genuine mistake."