The leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague, has called for an independent inquiry into the Welsh Referendum result.

He said allegations about irregularities in the count made an inquiry essential.

"On a matter of such profound constitutional importance, it is surely not too much for the people of Wales to expect that the ballot should be conducted according to the traditionally high standards we have enjoyed in the UK," he said.

"This week's revelations have cast doubt whether this holds true for the Welsh Referendum. It should now be a matter of urgency that the questions raised are addressed by an independent inquiry".

Ron Davies - nothing to call the result into question

In particular he wants an investigation into the way returning officers were told to determine whether votes had been cast in a valid way.

Allegations have focused on the Caerphilly constituency of the Welsh Secretary, Ron Davies.

Mr Davies said that while there were some technical difficulties there was nothing to call the referendum result into question.

The final result in the Welsh referendum vote was very close. The number of yes votes for a Welsh Assembly were 559,419 while the no votes totalled 552,698 - a majority in favour of less than 7,000 in the whole of Wales.

A survey in the Western Mail newspaper found widespread confusion among returning officers on referendum night over what had to be regarded as spoiled papers.

Mr Hague said: "The revelations in today's Western Mail paint a startling and worrying picture of inconsistencies in the procedures for the counting of votes".

Since the result he has said even though he opposes a Welsh Assembly "the people had spoken" and he would work to get Conservatives elected to the new body.

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