The Liberal Democrats have again come under fire for producing fake newspapers as part of their election pitch – with readers now adding their voices to industry-wide criticism.

Earlier this year party president Mark Pack issued guidance that all newspaper-style campain material should be “clearly identifiable” as coming from the party.

However local Lib Dems are continuing to produce mock newspapers in which the only mention of the party is in very small text beneath the masthead.

The party has been accused by voters and rival candidates alike of producing “misleading propaganda disguised as journalism”.

One of the latest instances of the tactic occurred in Twickenham in West London, a seat the party currently holds.

It circulated a publication called the Twickenham Journal, pictured – prompting one voter to write to the editor of the genuine local newspaper for the patch, the Richmond & Twickenham Times.

Local resident Martin Cairns wrote: “I was surprised to receive the attached fake, local “Twickenham Journal” newspaper from the Liberal Democrats this morning, and I thought you should know.

“The “Twickenham Journal” dresses up political material as independent local news, damaging trust in local news media.

“Frankly, it is a cold example of propogandist material that disguises its association with the Liberal Democrats as independent editorial.

“My view is that this campaigning masquerade undermines the few independent press that we do have in the Twickenham constituency and tries to hoodwink the public.”

Another example occurred in Edinburgh West where the sitting Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine is facing a challenge from the SNP.

The party came under fire there after voters received a newspaper-style leaflet titled the ‘Edinburgh West Herald’.

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, the SNP’s candidate Euan Hyslop described it as “misleading propaganda disguised as journalism” and said there were already “enough bad faith actors in our public realm spreading opinion as fact”.

He added: “I know that many local people have complained in the past and nothing has been done to prevent it and nothing will change when they receive complaints this time either.

“I feel sorry for the volunteers who deliver them, many of whom I know as good local people that care about their community.

“In conversation with them many believe that they’re doing a local service, delivering a local update with local information about the community.”

A Scottish Lib Dem spokesperson told Edinburgh Live that “all political parties use this form of communication”.

They said the party was “proposing and rolling out guidelines for these campaign leaflets which will see all of them clearly identified as being from and paid for by the Liberal Democrats on the front page”.

Earlier this year the Society of Editors vowed to “name and shame those who continue to attempt to pull the wool over voters’ eyes” by disguising leaflets as newspapers.

It said: “Not only does this absurd practice damage democracy and undermine public trust in both politics and the news media, it is also insulting to the electorate who are not stupid and expect officials and candidates to communicate with them in an open and transparent manner.”