The High Court has ordered a recount of a local election result which saw Birmingham's first BNP councillor.

Sharon Ebanks was elected in May when she was declared the winner of one of two vacant seats in King-standing ward.

She polled 2,310 votes with Labour candidates Zoe Hopkins and Catherine Grundy achieving 2,088 and 1,973 respectively.

The Returning Officer realised that a substantial number of votes for Ms Ebanks must have been double counted as the total number declared was way over what could have been validly cast on the number of ballot papers issued.

The result ought to have been 1,329 votes for Ms Ebanks with the result that her seat would have gone to Ms Grundy, who challenged the result in an election petition. Ms Hopkins was returned to office in the other seat.

Gavin Millar QC, for Ms Grundy, told Mr Justice Keith at London's High Court yesterday that it was important that the matter was resolved quickly.

"The basis upon which she brings her claim is very straightforward. She wants a recount because the count was wrong and she has been told that by the Returning Officer."

Under election rules, Ms Ebanks was allowed to take up her seat despite the row and has also been able to claim a councillor's allowance.

Mr Millar argued Ms Ebanks' votes on "mixed" ballot papers were counted twice.

Mixed papers are those in which votes are cast for candidates from two different parties, and Mr Millar added that, as Ms Ebanks was the lone BNP candidate, all her votes were "mixed".

That meant she was at a far greater advantage from double counting than the other mainstream candidates, he told the court.

According to the result, about 12,000 votes were cast in the election, said Mr Millar, when only about 9,900 were actually made.

The Returning Officer did not oppose yesterday's application.