POLICE have been asked to investigate the record number of proxy votes cast during a bitter election fight in Pendle.

As Labour and Liberal Democrats claimed major victories and Tories were left licking their wounds in East Lancashire, it emerged that two members of the public have complained over alleged discrepancies in the voting in fiercely-fought Whitefield ward in Nelson.

Police confirmed inspector Clive Tattum will be carrying out an investigation.

Proxy vote problems also hit the polls in Burnley's Daneshouse ward, which, like Whitefield saw cheating claims flying thick and fast.

Both the Asian dominated areas - fiercely fought out by Labour and the Liberal Democrats - witnessed record numbers of proxies - and by far and away the biggest election turnouts in the area.

Honours were split with the LibDems taking Whitefield and Labour stalwart Rafique Malik emerging out of the political wilderness to recapture Daneshouse. It was a bad night for the Blues throughout Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, with Labour and Liberal Democrat victories threatening to make the Tories an endangered species.

Conservatives were knocked for six in Rossendale, with rampant Labour capturing half a dozen seats to tighten their hold on the council and leave the Tories with just five places on the 36-seat council.

The Tories were battered in Pendle by the Liberal Democrats, who also strengthened their grip on the authority, by capturing Barrowford and Earby wards from Conservatives, who ended a sad night with just three seats on the council.

And it was virtual wipe-out for the Tories in Burnley, with two of their three seats captured by Labour, leaving Conservative leader Enid Tate the only Conservative winner on the night - and the last remaining Tory on the council.

Labour were cock-a-hoop over their winning display which also saw them take two Liberal Democrat seats and further strengthen a hold on power in Burnley - which now stretches back for nearly 30 years.

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