LABOUR councillors have refused to apologise after UKIP accused them of repeatedly spreading lies about their policies on thousands of leaflets distributed across Bolton.

A pamphlet called "Local Voice — Winter 2015" has been posted through letterboxes over the past few weeks as Labour’s campaigning for the general and local elections in May heats up.

On the second page, a box entitled "Beware UKIP: They’re not what you think they are" claims UKIP has promised to introduce charges for GP appointments, scrapping paid maternity leave, more privatisation and cuts in the NHS and raising income tax for families.

The party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Bolton South East Jeff Armstrong blasted the leaflet and accused Bolton’s reigning political group of "peddling blatant lies" about the threat of UKIP.

It follows a similar row in the run-up to the Harper Green council by-election in November, when UKIP said Labour had got their policy over charging for GP appointments wrong.

Mr Armstrong — who lost out in the Harper Green by-election to Labour councillor Susan Haworth — said the latest leaflet contains numerous mistakes.

He said: “Last year, when The Bolton News questioned the Harper Green Labour councillor, she said they made the statements in the full belief it was UKIP policy.

“It is now three months since it was brought to Labour’s attention that these were not UKIP policies and yet these same deceitful slurs are being rehashed by the Labour group in Bolton.

“It seems a sign of desperation over the threat of UKIP that the Labour group keeps trying to con the voting public in this way."

He added it was "complete nonsense" that UKIP would scrap paid maternity leave and holiday entitlements, and that his party has also committed to spend £3 billion on frontline services in the NHS.

UKIP has also pledged to increase the personal allowance for lowest earners, Mr Armstrong said.

Cllr Anthony Connell, who appeared on leaflets distributed in his ward of Little Lever, dismissed UKIP’s complaints.

His wife Maureen lost her seat as a councillor to UKIP councillor Paul Richardson in May after years in the council chamber.

Cllr Connell said: “They may well deny it and say they have changed their minds, and they are not the only party to do it. It’s like the saying — a week is a long time in politics.

“I hadn’t realised they were so sensitive. This is part and parcel of politics. I and Labour have had similar attacks and you shrug them off and take it.

“It’s not going to be changed as it’s already been printed.”

Asked whether he would apologise to the UKIP part, Cllr Connell replied: “You must be joking. I wouldn’t dream of apologising.”

Last year the police investigated after a UKIP leaflet alleged ‘Labour-controlled Bolton’ was being inspected in relation to child sex abuse.