The Labour party's election bandwagon hit the rails today - after police seized its campaign van's number plates and launched an investigation.

Red-faced Labour bosses were shopped by a rival Tory after the election van was seen parked on Canvey with an out-of-date tax disc which did not match the number plates.

Labour chiefs today insisted they were the victims of foul play.

They claimed the Suzuki's new tax disc - which was found discarded in the back of the van - matches the van's new index plates as it has since been re-registered.

The van was today parked outside Canvey police station - with black bin liners draped over its party message - as it cannot legally take to the road without number plates.

Labour councillor Dennis Williams, vowed to take up the matter with one of the county's Assistant Chief Constables.

Retired chief inspector Tony Belford, who is standing as a Tory candidate in Canvey West ward , contacted Canvey police when the van was parked next to his house - outside the community centre in Long Road - on Sunday at 12.15pm.

He said: "I took a closer look at the vehicle and found the tax disc had expired in June 1996. The number plate had also been screwed over the top of an existing plate.

"I got quite annoyed as the message on the side of the van was 'More Roads for Canvey'. Roads are financed through taxes, in particular road tax.

"Naturally, I passed the information to police. I had no problem with the Labour party displaying information as elections are one thing, but breaking the law is definitely another. I was incensed."

Canvey police confirmed the van had been brought to the station voluntarily by the owner, Labour councillor Peter Anderson, and inquiries over number plates and the tax disc were being carried out. Mr Williams today insisted the van was legal.

He said: "I am appalled. I checked the tax disc, dated October 1999, did match the number plates before I parked it up and locked it in Long Road. The next thing we know the tax disc is missing. We later found it thrown in the back of the van.

"The van has been re-registered and the old tax disc was left in the window by whoever removed the new one. The old disc would have matched the old plates.

"As it was left, the old tax disc did not match the new plates on the vehicle which had been screwed over the top of the old ones. I would like to know who broke into the van and threw the new tax disc into the back of it.

"I cannot see why the plates cannot be returned. Mr Anderson took all the necessary documentation to the police station to sort out the problem but was told to come back on Wednesday - just one day before polling day.

"The whole thing stinks. I'm furious."

Grounded - Labour's campaign van, stuck in a police car park and covered up to hide political messages

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.