THE Labour and Conservative local election campaigns were hit by controversy this week after allegations of foul play on both sides.

The Conservative agents complained to Scotland Yard about leaflets published by the Labour agent Councillor Keith Burchell.

The four-page leaflets, printed in English and Gujarati, feature the party's pledges for the next four years alongside pictures of Asian councillors and local Hindu organisations and temples.

They also carry claims such as: "Conservative councillors refused to condemn residents who threatened to burn the temple Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan, Weston Lane, Kenton down."

The Tories say that the leaflets were posted only to Asian families around the Harrow East constituency.

Barry MacLeod-Cullinane, chairman of the Harrow East Conservatives, said: "This is a nasty leaflet, alleging different things aimed into the Asian community with no differentiation between Hindus and Muslims.

"The content is very inflammatory.

"They are trying to say that the Torys would do anything to vote against Asians.

"I almost don't care who wins the election, Labour or Conservative.

"I just don't want us to divide the community in Harrow along racial lines because that is just the wrong thing to do"

The Conservatives have also reported the leaflets for an incorrect reference to who published them, which may contravene election law.

The leader of the Conservative Party, Councillor Chris Mote said that the leaflets could "incite racism".

Council leader Councillor Navin Shah (Labour) defended his party, saying: "We stand by everything that is in the leaflet.

"What is printed demonstrates the conduct of the Tories."

Answering claims that Labour was unfairly targeting the Gujarati community, Councillor Shah said: "We are addressing the fact that Harrow is a diverse community and has a large Gujarati community.

"We are giving a message clearly to those members of the community who are isolated and who may have language barriers.

"This shows the Tories lack of diversity.

"Their approach is scandalous and shows that they are running scared."

The Hindu Forum of Britain, which is mentioned in the Labour leaflet, said it was unhappy about being linked with any political party without permission.

Councillor Shah said that Labour had reported Tory leaflets to the "appropriate authorities" over allegations about grant allocations and planning matters.

Harrow Council has denied national newspaper reports linking the borough to investigations into postal vote fraud.

A spokesman said: "The council would like to reassure voters in Harrow that there have been no allegations reported to the council or to the police of postal vote fraud in the borough."

This contradicts a Scotland Yard statement which said: "Officers from the Met's specialist operations command are investigating alleged offences of electoral fraud in Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Southwark, Hounslow, Tower Hamlets and Barnet and are liaising closely with the CPS, the Electoral Commission and the relevant local authorities."