Police are investigating allegations of assault after a brawl involving candidates and agents in last week�s elections. The row follows months of tension between Labour members and former colleagues purged from the party.

Police are investigating allegations of assault after a brawl involving candidates and agents in last week's elections.

The row, which erupted outside a Dumbarton pub a few hours after Friday's local government election count, follows months of tension between Labour members and former colleagues purged from the party after an investigation into the running of West Dunbartonshire Council.

Linda McColl, the former deputy provost of West Dunbartonshire, and her husband, George, claim to have been left with bruised heads, arms and feet in the fracas.

Mrs McColl claims to have been called "a racist" seconds before the incident, a reference to an investigation in 2004 when she was cleared of sending racist e-mails after blaming her niece and husband for accidentally forwarding them to 15 fellow councillors.

The McColls blame Labour councillors and activists in Dumbarton for Friday's incident and have made a formal complaint to police. But others allegedly involved deny they were the instigators.

Friends of the Labour Party members say they have appealed to them to contact police and it is understood those involved are reviewing the situation and are expected to contact lawyers and the police in the coming days.

The licensee of the pub, the Glencairn Lounge, told The Herald that those allegedly involved were asked to leave and have since been barred.

The Audit Commission last year found severe mismanagement in West Dunbartonshire council. Its leader, Andy White, was expelled by Labour.

Several in the White camp, including Mrs McColl, were blocked from standing as Labour candidates, though she had resigned beforehand. She failed to be re-elected as an independent last week.

Mrs McColl said: "A witness, who is currently in Australia and will not be back for another two weeks. At that stage we expect the police to take some action."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We did receive a report of an assault in Glencairn Bar on Friday, May 4. Inquiries are continuing."