EXCLUSIVE - Muslim Labour Party candidate held in election fraud.

A Labour local election candidate has been suspended by the Labour party following his arrest on suspicion of electoral fraud.

Quesir Mahmood, 38, was arrested on Monday and questioned by Lancashire Police in connection with alleged postal vote irregularities.

Mahmood, a project manager in the pharmaceutical industry, is standing in the Wensley Fold ward for a seat on Blackburn with Darwen Council.

He has been bailed until 4 June.

A party spokesman said: "The Labour Party takes adherence to the Electoral Commission's code of conduct very seriously.

"The individual has been suspended pending the outcome of any police investigation."