THE Liberal Democrats have been warned by officials after an election candidate distributed leaflets containing the wrong information.

About 3,000 leaflets were printed, at a cost of £200 and posted in the Higher Croft area by Fred Gollop, who hopes to win the seat for the Liberal Democrats when the elections are held on May 2.

But the leaflets wrongly state that Mr Gollop is the "chairman of the local community association." Mr Gollop has been the vice-chairman of the Higher Croft Community Association for the last six months.

He stood in last year's local elections for the same ward, but was beaten by Labour councillor Dorothy Walsh.

And although the leaflets are printed in-house by the Liberal Democrats, the red-faced candidate today blamed the mistake on a 'printing error' while his party promised to re-print the leaflets and distribute them before the elections.

But Blackburn with Darwen Council's chief executive and returning officer for the elections Phil Watson, said he had contacted the party's election agent and reminded them it is an offence to publish false information and could result in a fine and disqualification from standing in any election for up to five years. No official complaint has been recieved but if one was, the council would investigate it fully, he said.

Kevin Dunne, the REAL chairman of the community association, said he was concerned Mr Gollop was taking undue credit.

Mr Dunne, 40, said: "I have only just found out about this. He did the exactly the same last year, when he said he was the chairman of the community association, when he was really the chairman of the resident's association. I have spoken to Fred about this and he did apologise."

Mr Gollop said: "It is a misprint. There's been a bit of a mix-up."

Edward Critchley, councillor for Mill Hill and LibDem voting agent for Blackburn, said: "We are aware that the mistake has been made and a new batch of leaflets will be distributed before the vote on May 2.