Coun Roger Roberts (BNP, Heck) spoke to Kirklees officials after he claimed he saw a presiding officer possibly influence a voter's choice at a polling station in Heckmondwike.

Coun Roberts said that an elderly Asian woman had gone into the polling station with members of her family during last Thursday's election.

He said: "She couldn't speak English or understand anything that was going on. There was a male with her, who three times showed her where to put her cross, which I understand is permitted.

"But then she stood in the booth and was perplexed and looking around. One of her young relatives looked up and was about to go into the booth and I put a stop to that and told the presiding officer that it was a blatant breach of rules."

Coun Roberts said that another family member then became involved and explained that the lady was also partially sighted.

The presiding officer then showed the woman an enlarged copy of the ballot paper to assist her vote.

Coun Roberts said: "But the Asian woman was still shaking her head and didn't understand and so the officer actually pointed to a name on the paper and the woman copied that onto her paper. That was utterly wrong.

"The presiding officer actually showed her where to put her cross."

Former Heckmondwike councillor David Exley was also at the count and rang the returning officer to report the alleged misconduct.

The incident is now being investigated by Kirklees Council, but an official spokesman would not comment on the case.