VOTERS were going to the polls today in the European Union and council elections - amid fears of widespread fraud and chaos.

Widespread claims have been made about the validity of the poll - but no complaints have been made in Kirklees.

In Bradford, extra police were on the streets to calm fears that vote-rigging had taken place.

All three main party leaders are under pressure in the elections, which represent the biggest test of public opinion since the 2001 General Election.

But there were warnings of polling turmoil in four English regions where the Government pushed ahead with a massive experiment in all-postal voting, against the advice of the independent Electoral Commission.

Police in the North-West are investigating a series of allegations of malpractice.

Also, there were fears that many voters will not have received ballot papers in time.

The council in Bolton has had to set up two emergency polling stations after thousands of voting packs went undelivered while other councils have resorted to delivering them by hand.

The all-postal ballots are being held in Yorkshire and Humberside, the North-East, North-West and East Midlands.