POLITICIAN Clare Pritchard has vowed to return to front-line politics after Crown prosecution chiefs decided not to take her to court.

The Accrington North Labour county councillor and former deputy leader of Hyndburn Borough Council was investigated by the police after her father Malcolm alleged she had committed electoral fraud.

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She lost her Milnshaw ward seat on Hyndburn council to him, standing for UKIP, by 112 votes in May’s local elections.

While she remained a Lancashire county councillor, she was suspended from Labour party office pending a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service.

A CPS statement said: “The CPS was asked to consider charges of providing false information to an electoral registration officer against a 41-year-old woman from Accrington, relating to the Hyndburn Borough Council election in May 2014.

“After carefully considering the file from Lancashire Police, the CPS has decided that no further action should be taken. The decision was made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”

A CPS spokesperson added: “The allegation was that the suspect in this case was approached by four people who actively expressed a wish to register to vote at her home address in the Milnshaw ward.

“The evidence that we have seen suggests the woman sought advice on the matter and was not told that it was against the rules.

“Therefore having carefully considered this case, we take the view, in accordance with various factors set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors, that a prosecution would not be in the public interest.

“Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct.”

Coun Pritchard said: “There are no winners in this. My family is ruined.

“I did nothing wrong in the first place. My head is held high.

“I am absolutely going to seek my full membership of the Labour Party and return to front-line politics.

“I am not going to let one person ruin my political career.

“I have been doing my jobs as councillor for Accrington North and I am looking forward to returning to the Labour group on the county council.”

Hyndburn borough’s Labour leader and fellow county councillor Miles Parkinson said: “I hope the family can now be reconciled. The Labour party will now go through its procedures regarding her membership.”

Coun Malcolm Pritchard was unavailable for comment.