POLICE have launched an investigation into allegations surrounding postal voting in Pendle after LibDem and Labour officials accused each other of abusing the system.

Lord Tony Greaves, the Pendle-based Liberal Democrat peer, said he complained to police regarding the number of postal votes being sent to certain addresses in the borough.

But senior Labour Party representatives say they have met with Chief Supt John Knowles to highlight claims of voter intimidation.

Today Pendle Council urged anyone with evidence of malpractice to contact officials or the police but said at this stage there was nothing to prove any intimidation or coercion had taken place.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: "One of the candidates in the area has made contact with the police over concerns about postal voting in Pendle and we are looking into it.

"We have spoken to Pendle Council about it and they have issued a statement along the lines of there being no foul play.

"That is all we know at the moment."

Lord Greaves claimed that almost 1,000 postal votes were issued in the name of electors in the four marginal wards -- Bradley, Brierfield, Southfield and Whitefield.

But he said that instead of being sent to the electors at their homes, they were sent to other addresses.

A candidate in Nelson's Walverden ward, Lord Greaves has also put down an oral question in the House of Lords on May 21 relating to his concerns, which reads: "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they were satisfied with the safeguards in relation to postal voting in the recent local elections."

Both Lord Greaves and Sajjad Karim, the Liberal candidates' agent, met Pendle Council officials last week over rumours about Nelson postal votes.

Labour group leader Coun Azhar Ali said the Labour Party, which controls Pendle Council, had received complaints of "bully tactics" and threats.

Mohammed Iqbal, Labour Party agent said: "This smacks of a desperate last resort tactic to confuse voters."

Stephen Barnes, the council's returning officer, said: "We have dealt with postal votes for the forthcoming elections as set out in Government regulations.

"They indicate that where the postal ballot paper should be sent to another address under the signature of the applicant it does so.

"It does not follow, until it is proven otherwise, that there has been intimidation or coercion of these voters or any other corrupt or illegal practices.

"Any complaints should be directed to either the police or myself immediately and they will be investigated.

"The Government is encouraging the use of postal voting as a way of increasing voter participation in local elections and have set out clear rules and regulations on how this should be done to avoid fraudulent voting."