A LAST minute election dispute has started in Arboretum after the Tory party put out a leaflet claiming a mosque leader wants other people to vote Conservative.

The party circulated a leaflet in the ward saying Bodrul Haque, leader of the Almedina Islamic Centre in Middle Street, backs Tory candidate Melanie Heider.

The leaflet went to around 70 homes and said Mr Haque "strongly recommends" people in the ward vote for her.

As the Worcester News reported on Tuesday, Miss Heider joined UKIP seven weeks ago before resigning when it became public.

The Tory party told the Worcester News the leaflet was put together by Coun Allah Ditta after Mr Haque had a meeting with him last Sunday.

But Mr Haque said he would not tell other people how they should vote come tomorrow night.

Mr Haque said: "I said I would support the party myself, but I cannot tell other people how they should vote.

"I cannot say to my wife, you have to vote Conservative'. I want to disassociate myself from the comments in their leaflet."

Coun Allah Ditta, cabinet member for the environment, serves the Cathedral ward nearby and is up for re-election tomorrow.

He has been actively campaigning in the Arboretum ward for Melanie Heider, which culminated in the leaflet going out.

The leaflet pictures him, Miss Heider and Mr Haque standing outside the mosque recently.

Coun Allah Ditta said: "This is news to me. I saw Bodrul Haque on Sunday and told him we were putting this leaflet out - because he said he would be happy to back Melanie Heider. He understood what we were going to do."

Arboretum is the most marginal ward in the city.

The Labour party retained it by just 37 votes last year.