AN anonymous election leaflet being delivered to the homes of Asian families in Bolton has been branded as "racist and inflammatory."

The leaflet entitled How Muslims Should Vote, has been brought to the attention of police and described by Supt Alan Greene as "distasteful".

It urges members of the Muslim community in the Rumworth ward to vote for either the Liberal Democrats or the left-wing RESPECT coalition. It attacks the Labour Government for allowing gays into the Cabinet and for supporting the war in Iraq. It also features pictures of American soldiers abusing inmates in Iraqi prisons.

But the leaflet is unsigned and is not attributed to any party. Under election law, that makes it illegal.

Supt Greene said he did not think the contents to be illegal but he added: "We have the mechanisms in place to nip this kind of thing in the bud."

Both the Lib Dems and RESPECT party have condemned the leaflets.

And Rumworth Labour candidate Cllr Rosa Kay said: "This leaflet is racist, inflammatory and homophobic. It could inflame racial tensions and attract extremists to our town. "

Many believe the leaflet is a direct response to an official Labour pamphlet claiming Britain only went to war because of Conservative support.

The Labour leaflet also warns of Lib Dem policies which allegedly go "against the teachings of Islam" and claims the party would be likely to reject Mosque planning applications.

But Cllr Kay defended her own party's leaflets.

She said: "This isn't an attempt to jump on an anti-war bandwagon, all three of our candidates opposed the war and I have attended anti-war demonstrations."

The new Rumworth ward, taking in parts of Derby, Deane-cum-Heaton and Daubhill, is set to be one of the tightest of the June 10 election campaign with the Asian communities set to have a major say on the outcome.

Lib Dem deputy leader Roger Hayes said he is certain none of his party's candidates or proposers were behind the leaflet. He said: "Labour has every right to be upset by this leaflet which is beyond the bounds of respectable electioneering.."

Neil McAlister, a RESPECT candidate in the Rumworth ward, said: "In no way do we support this leaflet. "

The full list of candidates standing in the Rumworth ward are: Ebrahim Adia (Lab), Albert Brandwood (Con), Dorothy Entwistle (Socialist Labour), John Heyes (Con), Ismail Ibrahim (Lab), Rashid Ismail Jangharia (Lib Dem), Gulamali Jiva (Lib Dem), Rosa Kay (Lab), Neil McAlister (RESPECT), Sydney Albert Palmer (Con) and James Roy Woodrow (Lib Dem).