THE Conservatives effectively gained overall control of Worcester City Council last night as they snatched three seats from Labour.

But their success was overshadowed by an anonymous smear campaign waged against one of the defeated Labour candidates.

Nazrul Islam lost to Tory Mohammed Altaf in a tense finale at the Guildhall, giving the Tories a crucial third scalp.

It means that the Conservatives now hold half the council's seats. The new mayor will have the casting vote when elected later this month - and is likely to be Conservative.

Mr Islam said his chances of re-election were dealt a severe blow by the campaign, which cast aspersions on his character and urged people not to vote for him.

He also criticised a Tory newsletter circulated in his All Saints ward on behalf of Mr Altaf, accusing local Labour councillors of trying to prevent the Muslim community from bidding for the Tallow Hill Training Centre.

It said: "Local Labour councillors wanted it sold to another organisation, which the local Labour county councillor runs."

"It's absolute rubbish," said Mr Islam. "The Muslim Welfare Association had to bid to get the building, and that's what they've done. All the hard work we have done in this ward has gone."

The Worcestershire Racial Equality Council director was first elected in All Saints in 1998.

"This hasn't put me off politics," he said. "I've not done anything wrong. I will carry on - I've got

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Councillor Altaf was pleased by the result and said he regarded Mr Islam as a friend.

"I thought I had a chance but I didn't think I would have had such a lead. I respect him and I hope he doesn't fall out with me."

He declined to comment on the smear campaign.

Council leader Robert Rowden said he did not like smear campaigns against anyone.

"I believe in talking about people's policies rather than their personalities," he said.

Labour group leader Coun Adrian Gregson said the entire election in All Saints had been difficult.

"We need to look very carefully at some of the things that have been written," he said.

"I'm not going to say that they would have altered the result, but it's not a very pleasant way to conduct an election."

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