An officer in Craven Council's finance department has been suspended pending a probe into irregularities.

The work of a finance officer, who has been employed at Skipton for about three years, is being scrutinised by auditors.

Craven District Council bosses have confirmed there is an investigation, but have refused to name the person involved or give details of the probe.

In a statement, John Harrison, director of corporate services, said: "I can confirm that an officer in the finance unit has been suspended.

"This suspension is pending an investigation which may or may not result in further action. No further details can be released while the investigation is pending.''

Craven councillor Robert Heseltine (Ind) said nothing was mentioned of the suspension or investigation at Craven's full council meeting on Tuesday.

"It is unfortunate that the management at Craven district continue to discover irregularities. The public has a right to ask when it is going to stop.

"Is it not time for someone from outside to be brought in to take a proper look at the authority?'' he said.

The investigation follows the controversial sacking last year of Craven's senior director of housing and public health. He was dismissed after auditors discovered serious flaws in the council's handling of housing renovation grants.

He was not investigated for making personal gain, but the probe was about how the housing grants were processed. As a result, Council bosses introduced new processes to ensure similar errors did not happen again.

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