Labour say the poster appeared on a lamppost at the top of Arnison Avenue, High Wycombe, last weekend -- a week before yesterday's Wycombe District Council elections -- and could have confused their own voters into voting Tory. But Conservative agent Sue Hynard denied the claim and said Wycombe Labour Party would not pass on all the information about where it was found.

The poster is coloured the same red and yellow colours as a genuine Labour election poster but reads: Javed Iqbal, Labour. There were no Labour candidates with the name Javed Iqbal but there was Tasawar Iqbal, a Conservative, who was standing in the nearby Bowerdean and Daws Hill ward.

Labour candidate Adam Gielgud, who was standing in the Bowerdean and Daws Hill ward, said: "This is a gross misrepresentation. It sounds as though there has been a bit of skulduggery. It is childish and at the same time it is confusing to the electorate. A lot of Asians might think Iqbal is Labour and vote for him. It is taking advantage of some people who are not quite conversant with the English language."

Mrs Hynard said: "We have tried to find out about it and they would not tell us. The candidate does not know anything about it and I believe him."

A spokesman for the council said: "We were made aware of the poster and drew the matter to the attention of the election agents. If either believes an election offence has been committed they will no doubt pursue the matter."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.