PLANS to trial the use of voter ID in Pendle local elections hang in the balance.

The High Court has heard trials of the use of voter ID in local elections are “unlawful” and should be blocked.

Ministers announced last year that 11 local authorities, including Pendle, would take part in voter ID pilot schemes at elections in May, although two councils have since withdrawn.

The borough has been plagued by claims of voting fraud.

In 2014 it was identified by the Electoral Commission as one of 16 at greater risk of electoral malpractice along with Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, and Burnley.

The four areas were due to trial photo ID, such as passports or driving licences, at polling stations in 2017 but the plans were dropped.

Neil Coughlan, 64, from Witham in Essex, is bringing a crowdfunded legal action against the Government, arguing the pilots are “unlawful” and will prevent people from voting.

Mr Coughlan also says the Government’s claim that the scheme is being implemented to help tackle voter fraud “does not withstand scrutiny” as cases of voter fraud by impersonation are “exceedingly rare”.

His lawyers told the court on Thursday that, when people are turned away from, or deterred from going to, a polling station because of the need for documents, there is an “interference with something which is at the heart of democracy”.

Government lawyers argued the trials are lawful and asked Mr Justice Supperstone to dismiss the case.

Hanif Mussa said that a delay in bringing the case was “liable to generate confusion” at the elections and to “undermine the integrity” of the pilot schemes.

Mr Justice Supperstone reserved his ruling but said he hopes to give a decision soon, given the urgency of the case.

Shadow minister for voter engagement, Cat Smith MP, said: “I really question the motives of a government that is trying to erode fundamental rights that lie at the heart of our democracy ­— when the scale of the voter impersonation problem is 28 allegations of fraud out of 44 million people voting.

“While the government wastes time trying to introduce voter ID, it is ignoring very real threats to our electoral system, such as foreign influence in elections and unregulated digital advertising on Facebook.

“I’m really worried that the people of Pendle could be forced to take part in the government’s incredibly suspicious scheme.”

Under the pilots, voters in the participating areas will have to meet ID requirements, as set out by each local authority, in order to be able to cast their ballot.

An earlier set of trials were carried out in five English boroughs during the the 2018 local elections and research from the Electoral Commission found more than 1,000 people were turned away due to incorrect identification.