Controversial mayor of the Tower Hamlets borough Lutfur Rahman committed “corrupt and illegal practices” and has been removed from office.

An election court trial estimated to have run up legal bills in the region of £1 million found Mr Rahman "personally" guilty of wrongdoing and "guilty by his agents".

Election commissioner Richard Mawrey said the 2014 mayoral election was void and Mr Rahman could not stand at a new election.

Four voters took legal action against Mr Rahman at a hearing in the High Court in London which ran for several weeks earlier this year.

The group was headed by Andy Erlam, who had stood as a councillor on an anti-corruption ticket.

"It is a fantastic result for democracy," he said after today's ruling.

"There will have to be a new election for mayor. Mr Rahman cannot stand."

The four voters mounted a challenge under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act.

Lawyers for the group made a series of allegations, including ''personation'' in postal voting and at polling stations, and ballot paper tampering.

Mr Rahman had said there was ''little, if any'' evidence of wrongdoing against him.

His lawyers described the group of four's claims as invention, exaggeration and ''in some cases downright deliberately false allegations''.

But Mr Mawrey made a series of findings against Mr Rahman - who was born in Bangladesh in 1965.

He said the effect of his ruling was that "Mr Rahman's election as mayor on 22 May 2014 was void - that is to say, it is as if it had never taken place. He has not lawfully been mayor since that date".

He said "a new mayoral election" would have to be arranged.

He added: "The evidence laid before this court ... has disclosed an alarming state of affairs in Tower Hamlets.

"This is not the consequence of the racial and religious mix of the population, nor is it linked to any ascertainable pattern of social or other deprivation. It is the result of the ruthless ambition of one man."

Mr Rahman was not in court to hear Mr Mawrey's verdict.

A statement on Mr Rahman's website said: "Today's judgment has come as a shock - the mayor strongly denies any wrongdoing and had full confidence in the justice system, and so this result has been surprising to say the least.

"We are seeking further legal advice on the matter in relation to a judicial review."

The group of four voters had said there were ''serious questions'' which ''need answers''.

Barrister Francis Hoar, who represented the group, told Mr Mawrey: ''The allegations against Lutfur Rahman are that he was guilty of corrupt and illegal practices, directly or through his agents.''

Mr Hoar said his clients were accusing Mr Rahman of ''election fraud'' and that there had been ''personation'' in postal voting and at polling stations.