A RETURNING officer has warned that bad behaviour at polling stations will not be tolerated on election day.

Graham Burgess, chief executive and returning officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said he would be keeping an eye on the polling station at St Silas' CE Primary School, St Silas' Road, in the Corporation Park ward, on May 3.

Last year Jack Straw, Blackburn MP and Leader of the House of Commons, was allegedly spat at, and some people left the station without voting because they felt intimidated by a group of around 50 people.

Mr Straw did not make a complaint, so the issue in relation to the spitting was taken no further.

Mr Burgess said: "I don't want people to be worried about the election. I am expecting that, as normal, voting in Blackburn with Darwen will be peaceful and well supported. There has been some concern about one polling station in Corporation Park, where there were some problems last year.

"I will not tolerate any bad behaviour at that station and will be keeping a close eye on it."

He said if there were any problems, he would not hesitate to call in the police.

Council leader Kate Hollern said her sister, Annie Smith, had turned away from the polling station because she felt so intimidated. She said: "It is everybody's democratic right to vote and I would ask people to go out and vote.

"People should not feel intimidated when they go to vote."

Coun David Foster, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "I think the more security we can have, the more we can prevent disturbances."

He admitted that the problems in Corporation Park last year were linked to a Liberal Democrat candidate. Coun Foster said: "He is now an ex-Liberal candidate. We removed approval of his candidacy following that election campaign, and he subsequently left the party."

He said all LibDem candidates had been asked to sign an Electoral Commission code of conduct.

A police spokesman said officers would be visiting polling stations as usual this year. He added: "There will be sufficient policing at polling stations on election day to allow people to exercise their democratic right to vote."