An error in distributing postal votes has led to disruption in two polling districts in the Worth Valley Ward.

Bradford Council Elections Unit spokesman Andrew Mather said: "Seventy-two people who had applied for postal votes in the Bogthorn and Exley Head area received two ballot papers for the district election instead of one for the district election and one for Keighley Town Council election.

"Also 90 people in the Haworth area wrongly received ballot papers for the Keighley Town Council election."

He added that the council had written to all voters concerned to apologise for the error and to inform them of what they must do with the extra ballot papers.

Steps have been agreed with the Electoral Commission to ensure that the errors will not affect the result of either election.

Mr Mather added: "Almost 40,000 postal ballot papers will be issued in the Bradford District Council elections this year. In the last district-wide elections, in May 2000, before the change in the law to make applying for postal votes easier, approximately 6,000 postal votes were issued.

"We very much regret these errors. We will take steps to find out exactly how it has happened to improve our systems for the future."

l Voters go to the polls next Thursday to elect councillors to the new Keighley Town Council.

There are also elections for Bradford Council wards, Craven Council and parish councils.