A FORMER Bolton pub landlord was handed a court warrant by police as he waited to hear if he had been elected.

Officers entered the election count at Chorley Town Hall last Friday afternoon as Nick Hogan observed counting for Parish Council elections in which he was standing.

Mr Hogan, who hit the headlines when he flouted the smoking ban as landlord of The Swan and Barristers in Bolton town centre, was ushered away from the count by officers, who issued him with a warrant to appear in court in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on Thursday.

He was not arrested but missed the remainder of the count and the result as he was in discussions with officers about the alleged offence, believed to involve a summons for speeding.

Mr Hogan, who was standing for the UK Independence Party but was not elected to Astley Village Parish Council, runs the Swan With Two Necks pub, Chorley, with wife Denise.

The interruption to the election count was made in full view of candidates, vote tellers, council staff and the press.

A police spokesman said: “Mr Hogan was issued with a warrant to appear in court in Banbury. The warrant was issued by Thames Valley police.

“Warrants like this need to be delivered in person and as we knew Mr Hogan would be at the count we decided to issue it there.”

Chorley council chief executive Donna Hall said police had informed her they would be entering the building to see Mr Hogan.

He declined to comment on the incident.

Mr Hogan was found guilty by Bolton magistrates of breaching the smoking ban in January, 2008, for allowing customers to smoke in The Swan and Barristers in Bradshawgate.

He was jailed for less than a month for failing to pay fines.

He was released after supporters paid his debts.