POLITICAL rivals clashed on General Election day – and police were called – over allegations of election posters and campaign material being torn down.

Amid the last-minute campaigning, claims and counter-claims flew back and forth between Cheltenham's Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Some Lib Dems claimed Tory electioneers had plastered material in places around the town that were causing danger to motorists.

However, the town's Conservatives have accused Lib Dems of tearing down legally-positioned election material.

Cheltenham police confirmed two reports were received yesterday of people tearing down election material – one Lib Dem and one Conservative.

Mark Coote, the Tory candidate for the town – who could be named its new MP today – accused Liberal Democrats of regularly tearing down posters.

One Lib Dem supporter accused Conservatives of putting up material in dangerous places and accused the party of "desperation".

Mr Coote said: "I am surprised to hear we are being criticised by the Liberals for causing a danger.

"If anything, danger has been caused by signs being torn down by Liberal Democrats and left strewn on highways.

"In any event, it is all very petty and trivial and not something I would enter too much into. It does perhaps show an air of desperation on behalf of the Lib Dems."

He alleged Tory posters had been regularly torn down for several weeks prior to yesterday's vote.

However, David Fidgeon, spokesman for Cheltenham's Liberal Democrats, denied knowledge of any underhand removal of campaigning material.

Mr Fidgeon said: "We would never take any material off private land. It is all parties' right to put up whatever they wish.

"Obviously if a member of the public with a political view has taken matters into their own hands then that is something which we have no control over."

Stephen Burden, manager of Gloucestershire Highways, said: "We had reports of election signs being placed on the highway in Cheltenham.

"Our teams went out in the area and any signs which were found to be a danger to motorists or we felt caused an obstruction were removed."

Highways officers reported seeing four signs.

A police spokeswoman confirmed two incidents had been reported to the force yesterday morning.

She said: "We received a report of someone knocking down two Liberal Democrat signs on the A40 at Charlton Kings.

"We also were called to just off Leckhampton Road, where a Conservative sign was reported to have been torn down."

■ Gloucestershire goes to the polls. Page 6/7