ALLEGED postal voting irregularities in East Lancashire have helped trigger an investigation by a powerful House of Commons committee.

The move by the all party group of MPs follows pressure at Westminster by former Pendle councillor Tony Greaves, who now sits in the House of Lords

The Liberal Democrat Peer called for an inquiry after claims of abuse of the postal vote system in Pendle and Burnley in the 2002 local elections.

Police are also waiting to hear from the Crown Prosecution Service whether charges will be brought against Blackburn councillor Mohammed Hussain, of Bastwell ward, who won with a massive majority in 2002.

The investigation followed a complaint from the Conservatives that Labour activists had collected unopened postal votes from houses in the area.

The committee intends to produce a report with conclusions in advance of this year's elections. It hopes that the government will make changes to the system if it finds serious problems.

A committee spokesman said that in the European Parliament and local elections of June 2004, electors in the North-East, East Midlands and possibly other regions will only be able to vote by post. Impact on turnout, administration costs and voter choice will be among the other issues addressed. The committee has invited written evidence and other relevant topics by Friday, February 13.

Witnesses who wish their evidence to be treated in confidence should contact the committee clerk in advance.

Lord Greaves reported to the police claims that up to 1,000 votes in the four Pendle marginal wards of Brierfield and Nelson's Bradley Southfield and Whitefield had been illegally cast.

A police investigation led Crown Prosecutors to decide there was not enough evidence to proceed in respect of a criminal offence. Last week Lord Greaves raised the issue once again at Westminster. In the House of Lords he said that activists of all parties across the country had abused postal voting.

He said that extension of the postal voting system should be put on hold because of widespread fraud in the system. He warned: "If the government move to a comprehensive all-postal voting system, we shall undermine the very basis of our democracy.

"I am delighted. I shall be sending the committee evidence about what happened in Burnley and Pendle.

"Before we move to all-postal voting for some elections we need to be sure that the system is not affected by fraud. We need to find out what has happened and make sure that it does not happen again.''

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "If we are to move towards a wider use of all postal voting I think this is a worthy subject for investigation by the committee and we need to sort out any problems before the change."