THE result of the Kinson South local election is being challenged through the High Court.

Labour candidate Beryl Baxter, who came fourth in the Kinson South ward and lost her seat, has brought the election petition challenging the result in Bournemouth.

The move follows problems in the Kinson North and South wards on May 7, when Kinson North ballot papers were sent to Kinson South polling stations and vice versa.

The mix-up was discovered after 7am on polling day and a number of voters were unable to cast their votes until the right ballot papers had been delivered.

Once the mistake had been rectified, the council tried to contact as many affected voters as possible to inform them they could now cast their vote. Chief executive Tony Williams and other senior staff went out to Kinson and West Howe trying to contact all those identified.

In Kinson South, UKIP candidate Laurence Fear topped the poll with 1224 votes, while Conservative Roger Marley got 1188 and Conservative Norman Decent got 1147. Labour's Beryl Baxter lost her seat by a narrow margin, polling 1083 votes.

There is now set to be a preliminary hearing in the High Court in the next two months, when the Court will decide what action is needed.

The council has repeated its apology for the mix-up.