Election candidates are calling for an inquiry into why Keighley Town Hall was shut -- just 24 hours before postal and proxy votes had to be submitted.

Keighley people looking to arrange a last minute vote on Tuesday, before the deadline at 5pm on Wednesday, were left high and dry when they discovered the town hall was shut.

And while offices within Bradford Council's boundary were shut, those within neighbouring Craven and District Council were open on Tuesday for voters in North Yorkshire.

It also served to heap confusion on voters who were originally told the deadline for postal and proxy votes was 5pm on Tuesday.

The Home Office recently extended the deadline by another 24 hours.

Candidates for the Keighley seat say that some voters have been left baffled by the closure of the Town Hall and the changing deadline dates.

Labour candidate Ann Cryer said: "I am disappointed with the way it has happened and we must make sure it never happens again.

"I think there must be quite a lot of people who have left it to the last minute and can't get a postal vote now."

Conservative candidate Simon Cooke said: "I'm cross about this because we don't have an election every year and a lot of people who don't want to miss the election, either elderly people of those going on holiday, would expect the offices to be open on Tuesday.

"I think it was remiss of the council and under these circumstances they should have had the office manned and should have prepared the applications for postal and proxy votes. I'm sure quite a few have missed the opportunity to vote.

"We have been able to help people who have called us but not everyone will have phoned the political parties for help."

Liberal candidate Mike Doyle is calling for an investigation into the matter, which he fears could disenfranchise local people.

He said: "There is the expectation during the election that Bradford Council would only close for the bank holiday."

He added: "I'm shocked, given the circumstances, that Bradford Council didn't make sure staff were there to help postal voters. Facilities should have been made available so the council could carry out its duties under the voting system."

Mr Doyle also pointed to the situation where voters in Steeton would not have been able to register while those in neighbouring Cross Hills, just over the electoral border, had the opportunity to do so.

Chairman of Keighley and District Pensioner's Action Group, Maurice Bassinder, said he planned to take up the issue with the Keighley parliamentary candidates at a question and answer session on Monday.