Voting in local elections in the north-eastIndian state of West Bengal is underway surrounded by tight security after three people were killed in fighting overnight.

Supporters of the ruling Left Front clashed with followers of the opposition alliance of the Hindu nationalistBharatiya Janata Party and Trinamul Congress.

Voters are choosing representatives to fill nearly sixty thousand village and district council seats.

A BBC correspondent in Calcutta says that the Left Front faces a strong challenge to its dominant position in rural areas of the state.