A WEBSITE has urged people in Swindon's two constituencies to defeat Conservative candidates at the forthcoming election by vote-swapping on-line.

Tacticalvoter.net has called for tactical voting in north and south Swindon to prevent the Tories regaining the town.

The website helps Liberal Democrat voters in the two constituencies to find Labour supporters living in constituencies elsewhere in the country where Labour has no hope of winning.

The voters then make a pact to "swap" votes and support each other's parties

in an effort to increase the number of anti-Tory votes in both seats.

South Swindon Tory Parliamentary candidate Robert Buckland, needs to overturn a majority of 7,341 to beat Labour's candidate Anne Snelgrove.

Meanwhile, North Swindon's Tory candidate and Abbey Meads councillor Justin Tomlinson needs to

beat an 8,105-majority to oust former Junior Minister Michael Wills.

The website has been re-launched this week by teacher Jason Buckley, who first pioneered the use of internet vote swapping during the 2001 election.

In describing both seats, his website states: "The Labour MP here is at risk

from the Conservatives.

"By swapping to vote Labour, Liberal Democrat supporters can make sure they avoid electing a Conservative to Parliament, bringing the Lib Dems a step

closer to becoming the official opposition."

Mr Buckland told the Advertiser: "It's sad that people involved in politics should use their time setting up a website when they should be finding out what people want from their Government.

"My job is to simply get out there and persuade people I am the right person for

the job.

"This website is just recreation for political anoraks.

"I do not see tactical voting as having a significant impact on the election.

"I think most people will ignore things like this website."

Meanwhile, the website also urges Labour voters in the North Wiltshire constituency to vote Liberal Democrat to overturn Con-servative MP James Gray's 3,878 majority.

Tactical voting is believed to have been used to oust Tories from some previously regarded safe seats in 1997.

The tacticalvoter.net authors claim that the website had an impact on clinching a Lib Dem victory in Cheadle and a Labour win in Dorset South.

But Mr Gray said: "I think if anything tactical voting will totally unwind this year.

"The idea is you vote for who you want. There's no point in a complicated routine of swapping votes."

Mark Hookham