A FORMER Darwen councillor has received death threats after announcing he is standing as a parliamentary candidate in Rochdale.

Simon Danczuk, 40, who has been in politics for more than half of his life, arrived at work to find a three-foot wreath spelling "Smon" and a four-foot cross.

It follows a telephone death threat to his work in Manchester two days earlier where he said an unknown man told him: "Simon I have some important information for you.

"If you don't withdraw from the parliamentary selection process meeting on the January 6 you'll find your body parts spread across the M6 motorway."

Police in Manchester have confirmed an investigation into both threats has been launched and officers are working with Mr Danczuk to protect his safety.

The wreath, costing £290, thought to be from a Manchester florist, was paid for on a credit card, which is currently a main line of inquiry.

Attempts were made to trace the threatening phone call but it either came from abroad or via an internet messaging service and cannot be traced.

Mr Danczuk, a father-of-two, who lives in Darwen and runs Vision 21, a social research company, said: "I tried to ignore the calls after I reported it to the police.

"But then I walked into the office two days later.

"Everyone was looking at me funny.

"I asked if everything was okay and they said that 30 minutes earlier the two floral funeral wreaths had arrived.

"There was a card on one saying: We will miss your politics, ARI'. I do not know what this stands for." Mr Danczuk was an Earcroft ward councillor from 1994-2002 and was the campaign manager during the 2005 elections for Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson.

He added: "I have started to worry. I have a young family and I began to get concerned for their safety.

"When I explained things to my wife she was frantic with worry.

"There's been a number of dirty tricks during the selection process,"

The Labour MP candidate for Rochdale will be announced after a count on January 22.