A DEFEATED election candidate today told how he feared for his life as he clung on to the bonnet of a vehicle as violence erupted in Daneshouse ward, Burnley, early today.

Labour's Saeed Chaudhary said he and his son Fassor Mahmood were hit by the vehicle as they stood outside the Labour headquarters in Abel Street following the council polls.

Language teacher Mr Chaudhary said 21-year-old Fassor was knocked unconscious to the ground while he was thrown on to the bonnet as the vehicle went along Daneshouse Road.

"I thought I was going to be killed," he said after receiving hospital treatment for cuts and bruises and a suspected broken rib.

Fighting erupted as Labour supporters followed the vehicle to Daneshouse Road and clashed with 200 Asian Liberal Democrats celebrating their candidate Mozaquir Ali's victory following a bitter election battle.

Police swarmed into the area, blocking the road with vehicles and separating the rival groups as shocked householders came to their doors shortly after midnight.

Community leaders called for calm as groups of people moved around the area on foot and in cars.

Police were still patrolling the area in vehicles at 2.30am.

Today Mr Chaudhary said his son was still detained in hospital.

"I feared for my life," he said. At the Liberal Democrat offices ward agent Mansoor Hussein said his celebrating party workers were attacked by Labour supporters and fighting broke out.

Said Mr Hussein: "It was a totally unprovoked attack and we called the police."

At the Labour offices, ward councillor Rafique Malik said he thought Mr Chaudhary would be killed when he was on the bonnet of the vehicle.

Coun Malik called for calm because feelings were still running high in the area today.

He said official complaints and evidence on the proxy issue had been lodged with police, which he hoped would result in the Daneshouse result being overturned.

A police spokesman said investigations involving a four-wheel-drive vehicle were taking place today.

He added that police acted to defuse the situation and no arrests were made.

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