The right hand man of a controversial police authority chairman is among the front runners to replace him in the job, it has emerged.

Magistrate Ted Cox confirmed that he was seeking to replace Councillor Ken Walker at the head of Cleveland Police Authority once his chairmanship formally comes to an end.

The Northern Echo has learnt that Mr Cox, who is widely seen as one of Coun Walker's staunchest allies on the authority, has already begun canvassing support among fellow members ahead of a vote to select the new chairman.

His possible appointment is likely to anger many critics who feel he is too closely aligned to Coun Walker and believe a clean break is needed from the current tenure.

Last night Mr Cox, 66, a member of the police authority since 1989 and vice-chair for the last two years, said he would not be making any further comment at this stage.

But Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, a long time opponent of Coun Walker, said: "It is up to the police authority to make a decision on who to appoint.

"What I would fervently hope is that whoever it is they are not tainted by the mistakes of the past and could take the authority in a fresh direction."

Coun Walker, who earlier this month failed to secure the Labour Party nomination to remain on the authority, was in charge during the much maligned police corruption inquiry Operation Lancet.

More recently he became embroiled in a public row with Cleveland police Chief Constable Sean Price over the discovery of a £7.3m financial 'black hole' in its accounts.

A source close to the authority said: "Ken Walker and Ted Cox have worked hand in glove together for many years.

"Because of this he could now remain an influence on the police authority even though he will no longer be there."

Coun Walker is due to step down at Cleveland police authority's annual general meeting on July 15.

A simple majority vote will then decide which of the proposed members will replace him.

They could include Barry Coppinger, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for community safety, who is also thought to be interested in the top job.

Before that the political make-up of the police authority will be decided by a joint committee which will sit in the wake of local elections in Hartlepool on June 10.