FINAL figures from the Electoral Commission have confirmed that 284 voters in Pendle were turned away from polling stations for failing to have the correct photographic identification for the May 2 local elections.

Of those 101 did not return with the correct paperwork to vote.

The borough was one of 10 which trialled photo-ID as part of government efforts to combat voting fraud.

The final verified Electoral Commission figure for those who did not actually vote in Pendle is slightly below the initial estimate of 119

Figures from the ten councils involved in the pilots reveal a total of 2,083 individuals were turned away for not having the correct ID and 758 did not return to vote.

Cat Smith MP, Labour’s elections spokeswoman, said: “It is now clear that the Government’s fixation with Voter ID is a blatant attempt by the Tories to rig the result of future elections by voter suppression.

“We are calling for these undemocratic and unpopular pilot schemes to be abandoned immediately.”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson who in 2012 held a special Parliamentary debate on voter fraud said: “People will be confused how Labour think asking voters to provide ID counts as ‘rigging’.

“The pilot in Pendle worked well, with no allegations of fraud on the day for the first time in years.”