TYLDESLEY-based Mayor of Wigan Evelyne Smith has received poison pen death threats (writes Malcolm RYDING)

But Cllr Smith, who took over the civic mayoral role from her husband, Bill, after he died last year, has vowed to see her term of office through.

"People who cannot sign their name or leave a telephone number are not worth getting upset about," said the Mayor who believes the threats are part of a dirty tricks local election campaign by the Liberal Democrats.

This week, Labour Party bosses have written to GMP chief constable David Wilmott to probe the incidents and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy to investigate the campaign strategy of Hindsford councillor Robert Bleakley.

The letters have gone after Labour election candidate Mark Aldred received an anonymous letter alleging the start of a Lib.Dem inspired smear campaign against him and other members of the Labour Party.

The threats to Cllr Smith have also accused her of supporting the Kosovan refugees at Hag Fold. One letter had a newspaper cutting with an arrow in her head

Election candidate Mark Aldred told The Journal: "This is sick to have no respect for the office of Mayor. Evelyne came into this position in difficult enough circumstance and has done an excellent job. As part of the Labour Listens team we have worked so hard and it must be very upsetting receiving such abuse." And Cllr Smith added: "There were false allegations made at the time of the last local election about allocating council property to relatives which Robert Bleakley repeated and which were found, after independent investigation, to be false. We are now asking Charles Kennedy to clean up his local party."

Last year Mr Aldred lost a by-election after rumours were spread about him having a criminal record. These were untrue. A year earlier Cllr Robert Bleakley beat long-time housing chief Sam Little in an acrimonious election fight.

Now allegations have been made into the funding of Shakerley Community Centre, where Mr Aldred is chairman. They are being investigated by Wigan Council's internal audit department who are expected to report shortly.

Mr Aldred told The Journal: "My family and I have been badly hurt by all these rumours which have not only affected my standing in the community but also my business."

And council leader Lord Peter Smith, who has been involved in political campaigning for over 25 years, said he had never heard about anyone stooping so low as to spread false rumours.

"I hope the police will soon investigate this matter and clear it up

Cllr Bleakley said the threats to the Mayor were nothing to do with the Lib Dems.

"I can assure the Mayor we would never stoop that low. Having received threats myself I would not wish that on anybody."