A war of words has broken out after allegations of intimidation at last week's council elections.

Conservative party members in Keighley have hit back at claims that Labour party members were intimidated during the contest for the Keighley West seat on Bradford council.

The row flared after police were called to deal with reported disturbances outside the polling station where large numbers of people had congregated. Presiding officer David Simpson is compiling a report on the events which took place outside Highfield Middle School last Thursday.

Labour councillor Barry Thorne, who retained his seat with a majority of 462, says he was too frightened to campaign on the streets. He claims supporters of conservative candidate Arshed Majeed were deliberately intimidating him, his supporters and voters.

He also says when he was campaigning on the streets during Thursday afternoon he was constantly tailed by a procession of private-hire taxis.

This week the allegations were dismissed as 'arrant nonsense' by local Conservative agent John Galvin. "This is an appalling slur on the conservative candidate," he told us. "It is being used to justify the labour candidate's poor showing at the election. I have not known Barry Thorne very long but I think this is a terrible slur on the Asian candidate, and it has been done in such a way which almost borders on racism."

Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer - who was due to help canvass support for Cllr Thorne - cut short her appearance because of the threats.

Cllr Thorne is pressing Brad-ford council's Chief Executive to ensure the presiding officer's report goes public.

The allegations have been refuted by Mr Majeed who says: "I am not aware of intimidation of voters or any kind of disturbance. Tempers were probably a little bit frayed but that is probably due to the fact that we had the Labour Party very worried."

A Bradford council spokes-man says: "We will be awaiting the report of the presiding officer before considering whether to take any further action."

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