AN EAST Lancashire MP has demanded an inquiry into alleged vote rigging after becoming the most high-profile victim in the build-up to today's local elections.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans made the call after his postal ballot was intercepted and stolen on its way to his second home in London.

Mr Evans, who was due to vote in the Tower Hamlets constituency in east London, had requested a postal vote because he intended to be out of the capital on polling day.

But after requesting the postal vote he hasn't received his ballot paper, he said.

The apparent theft of his vote is thought to be just one of dozens of similar incidents of wider fraud across the borough.

Police are now investigating alleged vote-rigging in seven London boroughs, including Tower Hamlets.

Mr Evans has now cancelled his postal vote, enabling him to vote personally in today's local elections.

The MP, who also has a home in Pendleton, said: "If an MP is having his ballot papers stolen then what hope have the rest of us got?

"I will be calling for a full inquiry into the postal vote system.

"I applied for a postal ballot paper and should have received it last week, but it hasn't arrived."