EURO elections in North Yorkshire were plunged into confusion last night after plans to scrap traditional polling booths were defeated, with only three months until voting begins.

Tory and Liberal Democrat peers joined forces in the House of Lords to derail the Government's attempt to introduce all-postal voting.

The Government immediately pledged to overturn the defeat when the European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill returns to the Commons in early March.

But it was facing a race against time to secure the legislation early enough to allow local authorities to prepare for the elections, which will take place on June 10.

If both sides refuse to back down, ministers may have no option but to accept traditional voting - and a likely low turnout.

Peers voted by 169 to 110, a majority of 59, to remove Yorkshire and the North West from the experiment, leaving the East Midlands and the North East.

They said the Electoral Commission had originally recommended only those last two regions should take part in the pilot scheme.

A spokesman for the department of constitutional affairs insisted the Government would not cave in, but would continue to push to keep the experiment in all four regions.

He said: "We are extremely disappointed that the Lords has chosen to block our policy, which would extend the ease and convenience of all-postal voting to 14 million electors.

"Work has already begun in those regions, so this defeat creates uncertainty and confusion for those people working hard to deliver the pilot schemes.

"However, we have the option of seeking to reverse this decision in the Commons and it is our intention to pursue that option."

The spokesman denied there was a deadline for the Bill achieving Royal Assent, after which the experiments would have to be abandoned.

Updated: 10:42 Tuesday, February 24, 2004