THE parties who have become coalition chums at Westminster were pitted against each other in a by-election battle yesterday amidst accusations of 'lies'.

The Liberal Democrats were vying with the Conservatives and an independent candidate for the Great Marlow district ward seat.

A row was sparked in the run up to the by-election when a Lib Dem Wycombe District Councillor suggested the parties should work more closely, as their Parliamentary colleagues are doing.

But Tory leader Cllr Lesley Clarke said it would be hard to work with Lib Dems after accusing them of ‘peddling un-truths and lies’ over an election leaflet for candidate Kavita Mohan.

The leaflet outlined Lib Dem opposition to planned spending for a stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps.

It pictured Miss Mohan at Wycombe Air Park, one of the potential sites.

Cllr Clarke said no site had been chosen and feared the leaflet could worry residents nearby.

But Lib Dem group leader Cllr Steve Guy, who compiled the leaflet, said: “I was a bit surprised by her reaction, to be honest.

“I think she has over-reacted or we have got them a bit rattled.”

The former Cllr for the ward - Helen Wilkinson - had her seat declared vacant in May after she failed to attend a meeting following a leave of absence she was granted in December.

The candidates were Mike Harris (Independent), Dominic Heaton Goodall Barnes (Conservative), Kavita Mohan (Lib Dem).

Polls closed at 10pm last night.

The result will appear on our website later today.