INDEPENDENT candidates for elections to a North-East council are threatening legal action over comments made in a Labour election leaflet.

The 12 candidates claim the words on the leaflet are defamatory.

They are demanding a full retraction and a public apology - or they will sue, they say.

The row is over material distributed in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, for Thursday's elections to Sedgefield Borough Council.

The leaflet promotes Labour candidates Angela and Bob Fleming, and Malcolm Iveson in the the council's Shafto St Mary's ward.

It says: "There are 12 independent candidates who are standing in this election and they all claim that they want 'better community spirit'.

"A number of the leading independent candidates are members of the Williamfield Residents' Association, which is in bitter dispute with the Silverdale Residents' Association.

"We are reliably informed that cars have been damaged; members threatened with violence and the issues being referred to the police.

"Do you want such 'community spirit' in our ward?"

Terence Paylor said seven of the Independents, including himself, are members of Williamfield Residents' Association and all deny any wrongdoing.

He said: "What it is implying is that members of Williamfield Residents' Association have caused this damage and have been threatening these people, which is totally wrong. There's been no such complaint made against anybody."

Solicitor Rory Todd, of Boddy, Thomas and Pacitto, said: "Saying that cars have been damaged and members threatened from my point of view is defamatory because, in effect, it links the candidates with this sort of bahaviour.

"I understand they've spoken with the police who say they have no record of any complaint of this nature.

"I will be writing to Mr Fleming asking for a written retraction and a public apology.

"I think there's certainly an argument for defamation of character, which could be pursued if they so wish."

Copies of the letter are also been sent to senior Labour Party officials.

A police spokesman said: "Disputes about the content of electoral leaflets and the accuracy of the contents are the subject of police inquiries. These inquiries are not limited to the leaflets of just one political party."

Mr Fleming, who has published the leaflet, said that he did not want to comment at this stage.

A Labour spokesperson said: "We cannot make any comment at this stage because we would not want to prejudice any police investigation."

The other candidates standing in the ward are Lileen Cuthbertson, David Dobson and Alison Palmer, all Independent.