Whitechapel Sports Centre has been slammed by opposition councillors for displaying material promoting Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman in its foyer.

Labour councillors hit out after the discovery of leaflets in a traditionally impartial environment.

The development comes just weeks after five television channels were censured by Ofcom for carrying advertisements amounting to a party political broadcast promoting the Mayor.

The leaflets set out how Mayor Rahman is “delivering on his promises” despite government funding cuts.

Labour group leader Cllr Joshua Peck called on the sports centre to ensure such material is removed from its premises.

He said: “It is important that community facilities are not used to promote political parties.

“After we learned the Mayor wasted taxpayers’ money making illegal political adverts there is obviously a concern that this is yet another attempt to use resources to promote his political agenda.

“It is important that staff and management at leisure centres and other community facilities recognise the need to remain impartial and do not allow political leafleting like this”, he added.

Nobody from the sports centre, in Dunward Street, was available to comment.

But Tower Hamlets Council denied it was responsible for the distribution and production of the leaflets. A spokesman declined to comment on who produced the leaflets and how they came to be in that location.

“The council only promotes publicity materials containing public information about local services and activities”, he said.

“Our contractors have been asked to remain vigilant on the content of public display stands.”