POLICE have charged a political activist with attempting to rig one of Thursday's local elections.

John Hall, who has been campaigning for the Conservatives in Whiteley, is accused of applying for a proxy vote without the person's permission.

The fiercely-contested Winchester City Council ward was won by the Tories at the last election by tightest of margins, beating the Liberal Democrats by just 19 votes.

The 67-year-old, a former Whiteley parish councillor, is due to appear in court the day after the elections.

Police launched an investigation into apparent voting irregularities after a member of the public complained to the council.

Hall, of Coriander Way, Whiteley, has been volunteering for the local Tory party, but was not himself standing for election. It is understood he has now been suspended from the party.

Hall has been charged with false registration information, false proxy voting application and making a false instrument.

Proxy voting is when a resident entrusts their vote to someone else on their behalf, if they have a valid reason for not being able to get to the polling station in person.

In a statement Hampshire Police said: "Hampshire Constabulary has charged a man following an investigation into irregularities in proxy voting in the Whiteley ward."

While serving on Whiteley Parish Council, Hall was one of four councillors reported to the Standards Board for England after failing to report a prejudicial interest over plans for a skatepark next to Meadowside Leisure Centre.

In 2004 he voted against it without mentioning he owned a property nearby.

Hall resigned from the council after being reported. Although he was later found to have breached the national code of conduct for councillors, no action was taken against him.

Hall will now appear before Guildford Magistrates' Court in connection with the proxy vote allegations on Friday.