A JUDGE has ordered a recount of votes for a controversial Burnley election.

The May 3 election for the Rosegrove and Lowerhouse Ward initially led to a tied result between British National Party candidate Peter John Rowe and the Labour's Paul Reynolds.

But the returning officer then cast lots and declared Mr Reynolds the winner.

But, appearing at the High Court in London, Mr Rowe claimed question marks still hung over the validity of two or even three votes cast in the poll, necessitating a thorough recount at London's Royal Courts of Justice.

He told the court he was appearing on behalf of four voters he said had expressed disquiet about the outcome.

Jason Copple, the returning officer's barrister, denied any mistakes had been made in scrutinising the votes, but suggested there should be a search for one particular ballot paper which had been allowed in Mr Reynolds' favour.

The vote in question had a diagonal mark in the left-hand column against the number of the Labour candidate rather than a cross in the right-hand column.

After three hours in court, Mr Justice Irwin resolved to direct a full recount, although stressing that only this one ballot paper remained in question.

Rather than seeking out the one disputed ballot paper, which would require fishing through hundreds of votes in any event, a "thorough" recount was now appropriate, said the judge.

That recount will now be held at a future unspecified date and supervised by a senior court official.