AN investigation has been launched by Harlow Council into an administrative blunder that meant more than 3,000 ballot papers were rejected at Thursday's election count.

In all 3,279 postal voting slips were rendered void after they were printed without an official perforation mark.

Each of the invalid slips was scrutinised by returning officer Doug Patterson and the party agents before the rejection was agreed.

Mr Patterson said: "Clearly this is regrettable, and investigations into all aspects of the production and distribution of the postal ballot papers are already underway to ensure lessons are learnt from this and the situation is not repeated."

Mr Patterson refused to confirm whether a private printing firm was involved, or whether responsibility for the mistake lay with the council or printer.

The mistake means the results could now be challenged in wards where the vote was particularly close, such as Bush Fair where Labour candidate Terry Brandon lost to Liberal Democrat Chris Millington by just 39 votes.

Harlow MP Bill Rammell said: "Three thousand people have been robbed of their right to vote owing to disgraceful incompetence on the part of Harlow Council. The administration of the postal votes this year was nothing short of shambolic. On election day and since I've met many people who voted by post and are very angry that their vote didn't count.

"In almost 50 years of Labour control of Harlow Council no-one was ever robbed of their right to vote."

Losing candidates and electors can challenge the results by submitting an election petition to the council within 21 days of the count.

Labour party agent Charles Cochrane is taking legal advice on whether to contest the results in some wards, including Bush Fair. If a petition is successful it could mean a by-election in affected wards.

Mr Patterson added: "This is being treated with utmost priority. The last thing we want to do is disenfranchise people.

"The community deserves answers and we hope to get those answers as soon as we can."

May 7, 2003 10:00