THE Conservative Group in Bolton has been cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation into the alleged use of taxpayers' cash to post election mail.

An inquiry was launched last week after an elector in the Tonge with the Haulgh ward claimed she had received a letter from Conservative ward candidate, Nigel Ford, which had been franked at Bolton Town Hall.

The Labour supporter notified party officials who passed the complaint on to the returning officer, council Chief Executive Sean Harriss.

Mr Harriss said last night: "Having concluded my investigation into allegations that council resources were used for the distribution of election material by the Conservative party, I am satisfied that there was no misuse of council resources."

As part of his investigation, Mr Harriss looked at whether there was any evidence of use of the franking system to send out party election material by the Conservative Group.

The Bolton News understands that no evidence was found and that it remains unclear how the original letter came to carry the town hall frank.

The letter in question spelled out the Conservatives' national policies and encouraged the reader to use a postal vote in the May 1 local elections.

Enclosed was a return envelope so that people could send their postal vote application form to the party's Bolton North-east association for submission to the town hall.

The letter was signed by Mr Ford and Deborah Dunleavy, the Conservative candidate for the Bolton North-east seat at the next general election.

Mr Ford's agent, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said yesterday: "I am pleased the investigation has been concluded and has rightly found there was no wrongdoing on the part of Mr Ford, myself or the Conservative Group in Bolton.

"We were confident all along that this would be the outcome, and hope we can get back to discussing the real issues affecting the town."

Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr John Walsh, said: "Having examined the details of Labour's allegations at the outset I found no evidence of any wrongdoing and I am pleased that the returning officer has confirmed this.

"It is sad that there are those who have judged the matter before the facts are known. It was either a genuine error and someone outside the Town Hall got the envelope confused with another, or it was a deliberate attempt to cause mischief.

Other candidates in the ward are Frank White, Lab, Ryan Barlow, You Party; Paul Harasiwka, Lib Dem; James Tomkinson, Green; and David Wood, BNP.