THE campaign for the May 1 council elections has got off to a stuttering start after a red-faced Labour candidate forgot how to spell his own name.

Jim Grant, the Labour candidate for Western ward, sent out a leaflet urging residents to vote for Jim Gant'.

But Mr Grant said only a small number of leaflets had gone out with the printing error.

He also criticised the Conservative-led council for plans to spend £52 on the canal project.

But Peter Heaton-Jones, the Tory contender for the seat currently occupied by Mayor Michael Barnes, said the "gaffe-riddled" leaflet showed the Labour group were in a blind panic about the elections.

"By missing out the second letter, it's clear the Labour candidate doesn't know his Rs from his elbow," said Mr Heaton-Jones.

"He's asking the people of Western to trust him with an extremely responsible job, and yet he's so careless that he can't even get his own name right. It's extraordinary."

But Mr Grant hit back. "There were a few printed that were wrong. We put some of them out but they have now been retrieved and are being re-printed," he said.

"This is rather a frivolous complaint though, and just highlights the fact that Peter Heaton-Jones has failed to address any of the issues I raised in the leaflet.

"We must assume that he is for the canal project - despite the Adver's recent poll showing that two thirds of the people of Swindon are not in favour.

"Presumably he can also defend spending £34,000 on water for council officials.

"He says nothing about relieving the traffic congestion in Swindon or battling anti-social behaviour.

"We want to discuss these issues rather than seeking to score cheap party political points."

Mr Heaton-Jones said: "Of course the Labour group will say this is a bit of trivia but I can assure them we are happy to talk about the issues.

"The canal - if it happens - won't cost a penny of council taxpayers' money to build.

"And anyway it's only an idea at the moment. At least the Conservatives have a vision for Swindon's future and are asking residents for their views.

"The Labour Party has no ideas and can't even get the basics right."

Also standing in Western Ward are Clive Hooper for the Liberal Democrats, Greg Heathcliffe for the UK Independence Party and Michael Morton, who is standing as an independent.