Signs are already emerging of electoral fraud in Bradford ahead of this year’s elections, according to MP George Galloway.

The Respect party leader and Bradford West MP said he had heard reports of “clearly illegal” behaviour by political activists, who had been offering to help complete people’s postal voting forms.

He said: “We’re already hearing on the doorsteps that people have been approached by party canvassers offering help to fill in their postal ballot or proxy forms when they arrive and to take them away when completed.

“And that’s clearly illegal. Unfortunately the people that have told us don’t want to involve the police or the returning officer so at this stage it could be described as anecdotal evidence.”

A spokesman for Bradford Council said the authority had not had any complaints of electoral fraud.