A RECOUNT of the disputed High Street ward election will begin today.

The Liberal Democrats applied to the High Court to have the ballot boxes re-opened after a member of the public spotted a potential error.

It is possible that the Labour candidates had been mistakenly given 1,000 extra block votes.

This may have led to Steve Terry being elected instead of Liberal Democrat Mahmood Hussain.

The ballot boxes, which are kept in a high-security Town Hall vault, are being be taken to the High Court today along with other papers relating to the ward count.

They will then be handed over to Senior Master Steven Whitaker, or one his deputies.

Court officers will recount the votes, supervised by council staff and political bodies.

A result will be announced within seven days.

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