Labour has been accused of campaigning “in the sewer” after printing leaflets with photographs of a serial killer, a rapist, a paedophile next to a Liberal Democrat candidate.

Birmingham Labour candidate Roger Godsiff produced leaflets attacking his Liberal Democrat rival Jerry Evans, as the battle for the city seat of Hall Green grew increasingly personal.

They accuse the Liberal Democrats of planning to give “convicted murderers, rapists and paedophiles” the right to vote.

And to illustrate the point, the leaflets provide examples of some of the criminals who could be affected, including serial killer Steve Wright, known as the Suffolk Strangler, who was convicted of five murders in 2008, and nursery nurse Vanessa George, who was convicted of last year of abusing children in her care.

This are followed by a photograph of Coun Evans himself - with the words: “None of the Lib Dem candidates in Birmingham, including Jerry Evans the candidate in Hall Green, have denounced proposals to give convicted murders, rapists and paedophiles the vote.”

Liberal Democrats have previously announced plans to scrap rules which prevent prisoners from voting. But the party says its proposals would allow judges to decide during sentencing whether convicted criminals should be stripped of the right to vote, rather than automatically allowing them to take part in elections.

But the Lib Dems said that what matters is their election manifesto, and this includes no plans to give prisoners the vote.

Coun Evans, who is a Birmingham councillor representing Springfield, said: “It seems to me that Mr Godsiff just wanted an opportunity to put these photographs on the same leaflet.

“He is not so much in the gutter as in the sewer. This is a man who is desperate.”

Mr Godsiff said: “I think it is important that people understand what the Liberal position is on this issue.”

Whoever won the election, the next government would need to consider whether to give prisoners the right to vote because of a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, he said.

“It is important people know where their member of Parliament stands on this issue, and I have made my views very clear. I don’t know why the Lib Dems take exception to having their position made public.”

Labour is defending an estimated majority of about 4,000 in Hall Green, after the boundaries were redrawn in a review after the last election.