WORCESTER Labour Party wanted to take legal action over alleged irregularities in the 1999 elections but could not afford to do so, the party's leader has claimed.

Councillor David Barlow says he and colleagues have kept files on All Saints ward for the past 18 months.

He said several people had been willing to speak out about alleged breaches of voting laws following the May, 1999 election, but were later "persuaded not to do so" by "another faction".

The Conservatives took the seat, previously held by Labour's Derek Richards, who had decided not to stand.

"Nobody would put the claims in writing," said Coun Barlow, who alerted the city solicitor, Philip Betts, of the allegations.

"The Labour Party considered a civil action in the High Court, but this would have cost £70,000," said Coun Barlow.

The party has alleged that in May, 2000 fresh "irregularities" occurred.

Election proxy voting forms were signed without voters' permission and votes were cast while people were in Pakistan or in other British cities, according to Coun Barlow.

He said West Mercia's anti-fraud unit had obtained a High Court order allowing the officers to scrutinise ballot papers, which have been kept under lock and key since May.

"They will open up the ballot boxes and take fingerprints from the papers," said Coun Barlow.

Worcester City Council is currently under no overall control.

The Conservatives have 16 of the 36 seats, while Labour has 15. Four seats are held by the Independents and one by the Liberal Democrats.

"If there is a by-election, Labour could become the largest single party on the council once more," said Coun Barlow.

Coun Francis Lankester and Coun Nazrul Islam, the two other All Saints councillors, declined to speak about the investigation until the police had completed their inquiry.

The leader of the council, Coun Robert Rowden, is among those who have been questioned by the police.

Other people still to be interviewed include the leader of the Association of Independents, Coun Mike Layland.