TRUSTEES of a North-East mining charity are facing removal following an investigation into alleged unauthorised payments.

The Charity Commission, which regulates the running of charities, has announced it plans to remove all ten trustees of the Durham Mining Convalescent Homes Fund.

The commission has been investigating the charity, which was set up to look after sick pitmen, since 2000.

It appointed Birmingham solicitor Deborah Oram as receiver and manager of the fund in 2001.

Officials said the investigation centres on allegations about the misapplication of funds and unauthorised payments.

The ten trustees are: Alan Johnson, former Dawdon NUM lodge secretary; Alan Mardghum, ex-Wearmouth lodge secretary; Colin Fowler, chairman of trustees and former area general secretary of the deputies' union Nacods; George Simpson, a former NUM official at Tursdale workshops; Kevin Bell; Joseph Whitworth, former chairman of Easington lodge; Joseph Cogdon, a former enginemen's union official at Wearmouth; John McCowliff, a former Wearmouth lodge official; Idwal Morgan, a national official of the cokeworkers' union; and Philip Duffy King.

A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said: "The trustees have been given individual notice of the commission's intentions and they now have one month to make their representations against this proposal.

"Today's action follows a three-year inquiry into concerns about the possible misapplication of charity funds. The receiver and manager, who was appointed by the commission to administer the charity in place of the trustees, remains in place. The inquiry is ongoing."

A spokeswoman for Thompsons solicitors, who represent the trustees, said the firm was "taking instructions".

The charity has no connection with the Durham Aged Mineworkers Homes Association (DAMHA).