OUTRAGED Highworth residents rallied to support a petition to the High Court which could lead to a recount of a bungled ballot.

More than 60 people attended a public meeting to learn how to recount election votes after an error which saw 10 Conservative candidates receive more than 3,000 votes each despite only 2,477 people voting.

Keith Smith of the Highworth Community Partnership Group said: ""The last time I spoke at a meeting like this was to try and save the town's library and this time I'm trying to save democracy.

"We shall say to the High Court that there were more votes counted than votes cast, which makes a nonsense of the election results, and we already know that whichever way you do the count, it means that there is one person elected who should not have been elected.

"It's heartening that so many of you want to help right this ridiculous wrong. We want as many people in Highworth as possible to donate because we want to demonstrate that we are very cross about this and we will fight tooth and nail to fix it."

Approximately £2,128 needs to be raised to cover the costs of issuing a petition, applying for security for costs and paying for the security for costs. Everyone who contributes towards this would in theory get their money back if the petition is successful as Swindon Borough Council would then cover the costs instead, Mr Smith claimed. Extra money could be needed to pay for a solicitor's fees and expenses.

Resident Richard Williams said: "No other parish should have to go through what we are going through to get the results they are owed. This could lead to electoral reform to change this ridiculous process - the community should not have to band together to sort this out."

Former candidate Lesley Gow said: "This meeting showed the amount of outrage that ordinary people who may never have taken social action before feel and their positive attitude to fixing this debacle."

Returning officer for Swindon Borough Council Susie Kemp said in a statement: "It is very clear that there has been an error in the numbers given in the declaration of the election for Highworth Parish Council. The votes allocated to some candidates are incorrect. I cannot be certain that this has had an impact on the candidates elected. As it stands, those who were declared are elected and able to take their seats on Highworth Parish Council.

A Justice For Highworth Facebook page will post updates on the fundraising - a petition must be issued before May 24.