FORMER Dartmouth town councillor Dave Cawley is offering a reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of those responsible for ruining his election chances.

Police are investigating after malicious posters were put up in the town on polling day which could have influenced people not to vote for him.

And the man leading the inquiry is urging whoever is responsible to come forward.

Devon and Cornwall Police fraud unit manager Neil Blackhurst, of the economic crime unit, serious and organised crime branch, said: 'The matter has been reported to us and we are conducting an investigation.

'We would like to know who put these posters up, so we can speak to them.'

Mr Cawley failed to win back his seat after 12 years as a councillor on Dartmouth Town Council.

Afterwards the Electoral Commission said that who ever put up the posters could have broken the law and face a fine or even imprisonment.

Up to a dozen posters were displayed in different locations early on election day morning – including one outside the polling station at the Guildhall – saying: 'If you love our Tourist Information Centre, do not vote for Dave Cawley.'

A spokesman for the Elect­oral Commission said that due to the poster containing election material and it being displayed during the regulated period, an imprint is required by law to be present on the front of the poster.

'This would be a potential breach of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and would be a matter for the police to look at,' said the spokesman.

Mr Cawley made a complaint to the returning officer at South Hams Council which in a statement said: 'The returning officer, Sophie Hosking, has reviewed the situation and is referring the matter to the police.'

Meanwhile, Mr Cawley has put up a £250 cash incentive in the hope that somebody will come forward with information leading to the conviction of the offender.

'I was interviewed by police on Monday and gave them two pages of notes that I had accumulated over the week,' he said.

'The guilty person may be found in five days, five months or five years.

'One day, someone somewhere will accidentally spill the beans. The guilty one knows who they are and possibly several others do too.

'What has heartened me a lot is that many people that I didn't get on with have expressed their sympathy and said what a terribly bad thing had been done in the name of the TIC.'

The posters followed comments made by Mr Cawley at a town council finance committee two days before the election, when he accused the tourist information centre of 'reckless spending' over website changes.

Both the tourist information centre and the Dartmouth Business Improve­ment Dist­rict have strongly denied any involvement in the poster campaign.

Anyone with any information is asked to telephone Neil Blackhurst on 01626 831683 or email neil.blackhurst@devon andcornwall.pnn.police.uk.