CLAIMS made by Ruth Davidson of voter bullying at a Scots polling station have been dismissed by the local authority in the area.

And despite there being no evidence of any disturbance, broadcasters and newspapers across the UK reported the 'incident' as fact. The Scottish Tory leader, who was not there, alleged that people were "turned away from an Annan polling station by burly blokes", but her remarks were swiftly denied by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Davidson's tweet said: "Disturbing reports of people being turned away from an Annan polling station by burly blokes if they say they don't support a certain party."

But shortly after Dumfries and Galloway Council tweeted that police were visiting regularly and no such complaints had been made. A tweet issued by the local authority said: "No burly blokes outside Annan. Officers and police visiting frequently. No complaints re canvassers."

The council later issued a statement which appeared to confirm that no such bullying or intimidation had occurred.

It said: "Police officers have been speaking to campaigners as part of their checks at the polling stations. This was the case at the Annan polling station."

Her comments followed reports in a number of papers that police had issued warnings about voter intimidation - but the reports were later denied by Police Scotland and revealed to be nonsense by The National.

Annan is within the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, where Scotland's only Tory MP David Mundell is hoping for a return to Westminster.

Police Scotland said: "Police Scotland is aware of the tweet from Ruth Davidson and is looking into the matter."