The Wiltshire Times is appealing to readers to help them “Trap The Web Vote Rat”.

The weekly newspaper made the call after a massive vote-rigging operation was discovered in its weekly website vote.

After councillors in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, had imposed a 48 per cent hike in council tax, the vote asked online readers whether councillors should resign.

Thousands of votes were cast, many times more than for previous votes.

And following further investigation, it was revealed that one person had voted more than 1,200 in favour of the councillors.

Out of 2,751 votes cast in support of the councillors, 1,252 came from one computer and this same computer was also registered as casting 131 calling for their resignation.

The poll was suspended and this week the paper called on its readers to help find the culprit.

A number of local councillors phoned the paper to admit multiple voting but so far the main culprit remains a mystery.

Editor Andy Sambidge said: “It’s such a shame that we have had to suspend the weekly vote because of this.

“It was a popular addition to our website but knowing so many multiple votes can be registered makes the vote a nonsense.

“We hope our readers can help us expose this person so we can name and shame him or her.”