THE number of votes Newbridge Memo received in the Restoration final was still a complete mystery today.

The BBC refused to release the figures for "logistical" reasons. But the decision has left campaigners bewildered as to why they have not been told three days after the event.

The BBC reported that the Memo, which came second, "narrowly lost out," but says it may not release the actual voting figures until the end of the week, even though it said 750,000 votes had been cast and third place received nearly 15 per cent.

Howard Stone, chairman of the Friends of the Newbridge Memo, told the Argus the situation was causing concern among Memo supporters. He said: "Suspicious is perhaps too strong a word - but it does make us wonder why they won't tell us.

"We have made a number of requests for the information but still haven't had any joy.

"They must have the details because they were able to give the percentage of votes the third-placed building got on Sunday night." In yesterday's Argus we revealed how a number of Memo supporters had reported difficulties in registering their votes for the building.

And Mr Stone today said he had received further reports from people in the Oakdale area who were also unable to get through to Sunday's phone poll.

The BBC has said the lines were checked with BT and there were no records of any faults.

Although the votes were counted centrally, a BBC spokeswoman said the delay in releasing the details was due to production staff still scattered across the country.

She said: "We want to inform each of the finalists how many votes were received before releasing them to the public.

"Unfortunately, due to logistical reasons, we still have not managed to inform all involved.

"We are hoping to be in a position to do so by the end of the week." The Old Grammar School and the Saracen's Head, in Birmingham, was the £3m winner.