LABOUR council candidate Quesir Mahmood has been cleared by Lancashire Police of alleged election fraud offences.

The married father-of-four yesterday spoke of his relief following his three-day ordeal which involved being questioned for seven hours on Tuesday afternoon.

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He and a 48-year-old friend were campaigning in Wensley Fold ward when they were arrested ‘on suspicion of electoral fraud and integrity issues’.

After being questioned they were released on police bail until June 4 for further enquiries.

However yesterday Lancashire Police said: “Following allegations of electoral irregularity in the Wensley Fold area of Blackburn a thorough police investigation has concluded that no criminal offences have been committed.

“Two men aged 38 and 48 from Blackburn who were arrested on suspicion of electoral fraud have been released with no further action.

“It is for others to now decide if there have been any breaches of electoral codes of conduct.”

Mr Mahmood, currently suspended from his job, accepts he may have breached the latest guidance from the electoral commission advising campaigners not to handle postal votes.

Mr Mahmood said: “I am absolutely delighted.

“It was what I expected but I was surprised at the speed of their decision. I have been absolutely, completely exonerated.

“It was an ordeal. The whole thing was a nightmare for my family.

“I was picked up off the street and taken away in police van. My family did not know where I was for hours and were very worried.

“I think that being picked up off the street and interviewed for seven hours was excessive.

“When I become a candidate I never expected this to happen but it makes me more determined.

“I had been asked to take some postal votes to the postbox. They were unopened and I had not been present when they were completed. I was just doing a favour.

“I knew I had not done anything illegal but was unaware of the new guidance from the electoral commission “The 48-year-old man was a friend campaigning with me.”

Former Blackburn MP and Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw said: “I am delighted but not surprised that Quesir Mahmood has been completely exonerated.

“The circumstances behind this are starting to look very fishy.

“I have made a complaint to the IPCC. He has been completely cleared.”

Tory candidate and former police commander Bob Eastwood said: “I am glad that no criminal offences have been committed.

“But I am concerned about the last sentence of the police statement concerning ‘breaches of electoral codes of conduct’.

“The cloud of suspicion will remain until that issue has been addressed.”