SIX people have been arrested by police investigating allegations of vote-rigging during a local council election in Blackburn.

Five of the six - who do not include a serving Blackburn with Darwen councillor - were questioned yesterday before being released on bail pending further inquiries. A sixth person was arrested early today and was dued to be questioned.

Officers leading the probe anticipate more arrests may follow as part of the long-running investigation into allegations surrounding polling day in Bastwell ward in May, 2002.

Details of the arrests come just three weeks after Conservatives in the borough demanded to know what was happening with a complaint they lodged more than 12 months ago.

They contacted police before the local elections claiming that Labour activists had been collecting un-opened postal votes from houses in the area.

Labour councillor Mohammed Hussain won the elections with a 685-vote majority, winning the seat from the Tories.

He had previously lost his seat in 1999, after first being elected to council in 1997.

Since 2001, Blackburn with Darwen Council has given everyone the chance to vote by post, prompting concerns of vote-rigging.

The Bastwell ward had the highest electoral turnout of any ward in Blackburn with Darwen, 55 per cent.

A spokesman for Blackburn Police said today: "I can confirm six people were arrested in connection with the investigation which is ongoing in Blackburn's Bastwell ward.

"They have been released on bail pending further investigations."

Coun Hussain could not be contacted for comment today, but his fellow Bastwell councillor Mahfooz Hussain, also the council's executive member for education, said: "I know people have been asked to answer questions and I do not think anyone has a problem with that."

Joe Smith, chairman of the Blackburn Conservative Association, said: "I am pleased to hear the allegation we made more than 12 months ago is finally being taken seriously."

Council leader Coun Bill Taylor declined to comment.