The party is using campaign material in several areas of Norfolk which claims to show "recent canvassing results" specific to the ward in which it was distributed.

Yet every leaflet carries identical figures: Conservatives on 38pc, Reform on 34pc, Labour on 20pc and the Liberal Democrats on 5pc.

The leaflets display the same stats despite citing individual ward statistics (Image: Supplied)

The Norfolk Tories have been accused of using misleading data (Image: Supplied)

Another leaflet appears to have failed to remove a general placeholder from a graph (Image: Supplied)

Opponents say it shows the data cited is false. The Tories have declined to comment.

One Conservative leaflet, which has surfaced on social media, shows the same data but does not give a ward.

Instead, it says "recent canvassing results from PLACE" - suggesting the candidate may have forgotten to paste their ward below the graph.

Simon Ring, deputy leader of the Independent group on West Norfolk Council, said: "It's quite an achievement to carry out canvassing that produces identical outcomes in completely different areas.

"Most residents will draw their own conclusions about that - however, some will be influenced by this fantasy."

Cllr Simon Ring (Image: Cllr Simon Ring)

Mr Ring, who is standing in the Freebridge Lynn division, added: "We've always prided ourselves on fairly straightforward, honest local campaigning.

"Ultimately, people deserve honest, accurate information so they can make up their own minds. That's what builds trust, and once that's lost, it's very hard to get back."

Among the areas where the leaflets have been distributed are Gaywood South, Gaywood North and Central and the North Coast division.

The leaflets promote the candidacies of Ade Adeyemo in Gaywood South, Lea McGurk in Gaywood North and Central and Peter Wilkinson on the North Coast.

Peter Wilkinson is standing in the North Coast division for the party (Image: North West Conservatives)

Rob Colwell, a Liberal Democrat councillor on West Norfolk who is standing in the Gaywood South seat, said said the leaflets fed into a growing crisis of trust.

"At the moment there seems to be a real distrust within politics," he said.

"A publicity stunt like this - something that is dishonest - feeds into that mistrust, especially with the rise of the far right and Reform."

Liberal Democrat councillor Rob Colwell has also criticised the leaflets (Image: Rob Colwell)

The Conservatives currently hold seven county council seats in West Norfolk.

Pollsters are predicting heavy losses for the party on May 7, with many tipping the party to lose its 51-seat majority at County Hall.

The North West Norfolk Conservatives, the party HQ and West Norfolk MP James Wild have all declined to comment.

© Norwich Evening News