There's an interesting story in today's edition of The Northern Echo about £780,000 of taxpayers' money lost in a blunder over a gas pipe in Darlington town centre.

A confidential report has concluded that Darlington Borough Council should not pursue legal proceedings against any party involved in the cock-up over the 100-year-old pipe which was damaged during the pedestrian heart project.

The report itself cost another £40,000 so Darlington taxpayers are out of pocket to the tune of £820,000.

Given the very significant amount of public money at stake, you might think that the report should be made public.

It's going to members of the council's cabinet next Tuesday but the council does not intend to make the details of the report public.

I think the public has a right to know exactly what happened. We've submitted a request for the report to be published under the Freedom of Information Act.

It will be interesting to see what comes to light in the next day or so.