AN investigation has been launched after a memory stick containing the bank details of more than 5,000 council workers was lost.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council yesterday instigated emergency procedures after the computer data containing highly-personal information could not be found prior to the monthly payroll process.

Senior council staff immediately alerted all staff and members whose information was included on the data stick, as well as contacting their trade unions.

They were given advice on how they could ensure that the information was not misused, including calling their banks, and an emergency helpline was set up.

Council employees started a search for the 4in memory stick – which contained part of the back-up system for the authority’s payroll system.

However, the search wascalled off yesterday afternoon after the stick was discovered at Eston Town Hall.

No one was able to fully explain how it had got there.

A council spokesman said the memory stick had wrongly been moved from its usual place of safe keeping.

He said a search of the council premises in Eston led to the discovery of the memory stick in a locked container.

Council chief executive Amanda Skelton said its discovery was a “great relief”.

“As soon as it became clear that the memory stick was not in the secure area where it is normally stored, we recognised the potential seriousness of the situation,” she said.

“The data on the stick included financial and banking details of about 5,400 people and was not encrypted.

“Obviously, we are all enormously relieved that the item has been found – and that it was, in reality, always under lock and key in our premises.

But, that does not reduce the serious nature of the issues raised, especially in relation to our information and security systems.

“What we will now be doing is continuing the investigation already under way.”

Eve Cole, Unison branch secretary, speaking while the memory stick was missing, called for an inquiry.