Hundreds of postal voters in Stowmarket have been sent second ballot papers for their Town Council elections after a mistake in the first mailshot.

It is the latest problem to beset Mid Suffolk's electoral services department after a series of issues which has prompted a major investigation.

The councils were late in publishing their council nominations last month - and the initial publication had mistakes in some district wards. 

In Stow Thorney district ward only the Green Party candidate was initially listed for the marginal seat - but it later emerged there was a Conservative candidate too.

There was also confusion about the number of candidates in another ward - and when the list of town and parish council nominees was published many were shown as standing for the wrong party.

The Electoral Commission has already been told about the earlier problems and that is expected to be consulted about an investigation the council is carrying out into the problems.

A spokesman for Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils said: "Unfortunately, the original ballot paper sent on April 21 to the 625 postal voters for Stowmarket Town Council's Stow Thorney ward incorrectly asked them to vote for up to two, instead of up to four, candidates.

"We have taken immediate action to address this, and new ballot papers are being issued today to those postal voters, along with a letter explaining the error, so they can cast up to four votes.

"Anyone from that ward who had already returned their postal vote will also be personally contacted to explain their original ballot paper is void and that they need to use the new (yellow) ballot paper.

“This does not affect any other voters and is only relevant to the postal voters for the Stowmarket Town Council Stow Thorney ward.

"It does not affect any other postal votes and will not affect anyone voting in a polling station on May 4."

“We are sorry for the confusion caused to those postal voters and to the candidates standing in the Stowmarket Town Council Stow Thorney ward.”