THE Labour Party in Bolton has been reported to the Audit Commission for "improper use" of public money.

Election leaflets which the party is posting through doors asks voters to fill in a tear-off slip to post back to the town hall.

The slip asks people to name any improvements they feel could be made in Bolton.

But Tory councillor John Walsh says the slips should be posted back to a Labour office or a Labour councillor's house because they are being sorted by town hall staff, whose wages are paid by taxpayers.

Cllr Walsh said: "Someone has to sort that post and then deliver it, and that is costing taxpayers money.

"I don't believe the town hall should be used as a clearing shop for Labour's election campaign. The Labour party should have an office or a councillor's house for these slips to be sent to. It is a disgraceful use of public money."

Council leader and Labour councillor Bob Howarth said: "If Cllr Walsh wants to play childish games, then let him.

"It is not as if we report him for using town hall staff who take telephone calls for him.

"There are quite a number of us who ask for mail to be sent to the town hall and this is no different.

"I guess out of all the mail that comes into the town hall these slips would account for about 0.000001 per cent of mail handled by staff."