A COUNCILLOR arrested over allegations that an election he won was rigged said he was due to have talks with local Labour Party officials.

Mohammed Hussain was quizzed by detectives on Wednesday in connection with the inquiry into alleged irregularities on hundreds of postal ballot papers for the Bastwell ward of Blackburn in May 2002.

The Labour councillor has been given police bail pending further inquiries, along with another six people.

Coun Hussain, speaking at his home in Logwood Street, Bastwell, said: "Until I have spoken to the Labour Party and my legal team, I have no comment to make. But I plan to make a statement soon."

Coun Hussain won the election with a 685-vote majority, two years after losing the seat to the Conservatives.

Postal voting has been available to everyone in Blackburn with Darwen since 2001 and the Bastwell ward had a 55 per cent turnout at the election - the highest in the borough.