BOLTON MP Brian Iddon is seeking advice from the Commission for Racial Equality over letters that praise him that were sent from the home of his Tory opponent.

The Bolton South East MP says he is "not satisfied" with an explanation from Conservative Prospective Candidate Haroon Rashid that faxes sent to the BEN praising him and condemning the Tories stance on immigration were sent without his knowledge.

And he has also informed Prime Minister Tony Blair about the issue and says he is now set to write to Tory leader William Hague over the matter.

The BEN revealed that two faxes have been sent for inclusion in our Your Views section which praise Dr Iddon for his work with the ethnic minority in Bolton.

One signed by a Raja Iqbal claimed: "The Tory Party have been very strict on immigration and asylum seekers and they have caused enormous problems for the ethnic minority in Bolton."

A second, signed by a Fern Malik, acknowledges the good work done by Brian Iddon with the Asian community over the last few years.

Both letters originated from Mr Rashid's fax machine at his London home.

Mr Rashid told the BEN that the letters were sent here by members of Bolton's Muslim Council who visited him on two occasions at his home.

But he said he was unaware of the letters' contents and expressed concern that views criticising his party had come from his home.

Confirmed

This was confirmed by Ahmed Patel of Bolton's Muslim Council who said the letters were sent by them from Mr Rashid's home.

Mr Patel said that the views were the collective feelings of the council and Mr Iqbal and Mr Malik were not the authors but agreed to sign them because they take turns in signing the letters.

Since then the BEN has unearthed another letter sent for inclusion in the Your Views section on March 9.

The letter is signed by an A Alam Patel of Gibbon Street but again originated from Mr Rashid's home address.

But this third letter criticises Dr Iddon and claims the Labour Party "pamper the ethnic community".

Dr Iddon said the third letter "blows Mr Rashid's explanation out of the water".

"I challenge him to present any of the writers of these letters," said Dr Iddon. "Can he say that this also comes from the Bolton Muslim Council because if it does then it seems that one minute they are all over me and the next they are criticising me.

"We have tried to find these people in our Electoral Register and can't find them.

"I challenge Mr Rashid to produce the people who have sent letters from his home address."

Mr Rashid said: "The accusation that I sent these faxes is without foundation. My hospitality and goodwill have been misused. These people have gone on record saying they sent the letters. I did not see these letters before they were sent and the views expressed are theirs and not my own. I believe this is politically motivated by the Labour Party to discredit me and the Conservative Party just before the election."

North West Conservative Party spokesman Ben Pinnington said: "Mr Rashid is not dodging this issue but it is important that we produce professional responses to what is a very serious matter.

"We cannot see where Dr Iddon is leading with this because the Bolton Muslim Council has gone on record as saying the letters were from them."

Mr Pinnington could offer no explanation for Mr A Alam Patel's letter but said: "This does not apply to the issue because it is not praising Dr Iddon and not criticising the Conservatives."