Andrew Fowler, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Charnock by-election on Penwortham Town Council, was canvassing on Wednesday night when he claims he was assaulted.

Mr Fowler says as he was walking up Spring Gardens, Penwortham, he heard a car driving slowly behind him before it came to a halt.

Two people, believed to be connected to an opposition party, got out of the car and told him to stop delivering the leaflets, which made allegations against the by-election's Conservative candidate Ruth Gardner.

Mr Fowler says he was threatened with legal action over the leaflet but continued to deliver them.

When he came to the junction of North Leach Avenue and Spring Gardens, he claims the car again pulled up beside him.

He claims two men again got out of the car and stood in front and behind him, effectively blocking him in, while a woman remained in the back of the car.

Mr Fowler, who says he felt 'intimidated', said: "The older man said, 'You're going to stop or else'. So I said, 'Or else what?' and I got a punch in the stomach."

After one of the men took pictures of him, Mr Fowler says the car drove off and turned into Fitchfield, but he was able to get the car's make and part of the registration number, which he has reported to police.

He added: "The car left and the parting shot was, 'Don't forget, we know where you live'."

A police officer was at the by-election count on Thursday night – which was won by the Conservatives – as a standard procedure.

However, those present were kept inside the Penwortham Community Centre, in Kingsfold Drive, for a short period while the officer was taken outside by a Lib Dem party member and shown the car – which was parked in the car park – allegedly involved in the previous night's incident.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "An allegation of assault was made to police following a minor altercation during campaigning for the local by-election in Charnock ward.

"Police are investigating the incident that took place in North Leach Avenue. Nobody was taken to hospital.

"Police did attend the election count on Thursday night as we do regularly during any local or general election count."

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