AN investigation is underway after a 'disgraceful' electioneering letter was sent round Emmbrook by one of the parties.

A letter, delivered around Emmbrook seems to blame Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors for the election despite them agreeing to allowing the Conservatives to co-opt their candidate back into his seat.

The by-election was called after former Tory councillor, Sanjay Odedra, left the council after a prolonged period of illness.

Mr Odedra had a heart by-pass shortly after last year's election and had to be granted a leave of absence.

After this expired, no explanation for his absence was given at a amenities council meeting in November last year, which Mr Odedra missed because of Diwali, meaning he was automatically forced to give up his seat.

Wokingham Town Council, which includes 22 Tory councillors, two Independents and one Liberal Democrat, agreed not to hold an election unless the legal threshold of 10 writing to the council was met.

However, Wokingham's Labour Party urged the electors to call for an election which will now be held on February 4.

The letter, addressed from Emmbrook North ward councillor Cllr UllaKarin Clark, blames two of the three opposition councillors for blocking Mr Odedra's return to the council, complaining the public will now have to foot the £6,700 bill.

A Wokingham Borough Council spokesperson said: “We have received a complaint regarding the Wokingham town by-election and as the administrating authority for the election we are currently looking into it.”

Prue Bray, leader of the borough's Liberal Democrats and a member of the borough council, said: "Returning officer Andrew Moulton has written to the Conservatives asking them to retract the letter and apologise.

"They know what they have done they have tried to suggest that we wouldn't let Mr Odedra back on the council.

"It's a deliberate tactic to try and cast a slur on us.

"I think this is absolutely disgraceful behaviour. I have never encountered anything like it in more than 20 years of elections in Wokingham."

Cllr UllaKarin Clark said the letter had been written by a number of people.

She said: "There has been a misunderstanding in relation to the reasons the Emmbrook by-election was called. 

"We shall be issuing a clarification to every household in the town ward and apologise for any confusion caused."

Electors will head to the polls on Thursday February 4. There are three candidates standing, Helen Belcher for the Liberal Democrats, Brent Lees for the Labour Party and Sanjay Odedra for the Conservative Party.