A LAST-minute election dispute has started in Worcester's Arboretum ward 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 Midland Road, backs Tory candidate Melanie Heider.

The leaflet went to about 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 Conservative party told the Worcester News the leaflet was put together by Councillor Allah Ditta after Mr Haque had a meeting with him last Sunday. But Mr Haque said: "I said I would support the party myself, but I cannot tell other people how they should vote. I want to disassociate myself from the comments in their leaflet."

Coun Allah Ditta, cabinet member for the environment, who is standing in Cathedral 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."

election special: page 14&15