Mayor discharged after fraud probe.

THE Mayor of Halton has been discharged from police bail after a three month police probe into electoral fraud allegations.

Cllr Pat Tyrell, 73, and his 45-year-old daughter were told they were free to go after attending Warrington police station.

A woman aged 69 and a man aged 18 have also been released from bail.

Cllr Tyrell, a Labour councillor for Castlefield ward in Runcorn and a former Cheshire county councillor, has served on Halton council for more than 20 years.

He was arrested in August and interviewed about June's local and European elections. His daughter was interviewed on suspicion of forgery.

A file of the investigation has been sent to the director of public prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service, who could still ask for charges to be brought. A Cheshire Police spokesman said: ``Cheshire police can confirm that a detailed file relating to the allegations of personation and of forgery have been forwarded to the DPP offices. It is standard procedure to release from bail anyone connected to an investigation referred to the DPP. ''

Personation involves filling in ballots in the absence of the real voter.

CAPTION(S):

FREE TO GO: Pat Tyrell