AN investigation has been launched by police into why three members of Hyndburn Council failed to complete declaration of interest forms.

Last month, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed how three councillors -- all elected in 2000 -- had not completed the forms, which they are required to do by law.

Although two of the three councillors -- Central ward's Siddique Kazi and Great Harwood's Roy Atkinson -- have since completed the forms, and claim it was just an oversight, council chief executive Mike Chambers was forced to launch an investigation.

A form has been sent out to the third affected councillor, Central's Mohammed Aslam, who is currently in Pakistan.

Now, the results of Mr Chambers' inquiry have been handed over to the police in accordance with the law.

The forms ask for details such as sources of income and property owned and are designed to make sure councillors never face conflict-of-interest rows.

A spokesman for Blackburn police said: "We will be speaking to the people concerned and gather any evidence we find."

Both council leader Peter Britcliffe and Hyndburn chief executive Mike Chambers believe the failure to fill in forms were oversights rather a deliberate decision not to fill them in.

A spokesman for the council added: "We don't have the power to deal with this matter because it is classed as a criminal offence which is why we have handed it over to the police."