Durham Police last night confirmed that it has launched an inquiry into allegations that an officer misused a police vehicle during the weekend, just 14 months after two PCs based at the same station were forced to quit for having a sex romp with a schoolgirl in the back of their marked van.

The Professional Standards Department at Durham Police is investigating an allegation that an officer based at Barnard Castle used a marked police Land Rover to move furniture from their house to a new home.

It is alleged that the officer, who police have not named, was seen using the vehicle to move household items from Barnard Castle to the village of Cotherstone.

Although the officer in question has not been suspended, police chiefs are treating the allegations very seriously, as there are also claims from a member of the public that the officer put on the Land Rover's blue flashing lights while in transit.

The allegations follow an internal inquiry into claims that two PCs based at Barnard Castle had sex with a six-form schoolgirl in the back of their van after picking her up as she walked home in the early hours of New Year's Day last year.

PCs Marc Watson and Michael Hendy were "forced to resign" after a six-month internal disciplinary investigation found the two officers guilty of "misusing a police vehicle and indulging in sexual acts with a teenage girl while on duty."

A 17-year-old girl was interviewed by police as part of the investigation.

Mr Watson asked for a review to be carried out into his dismissal, but his appeal was turned down by Durham Police's Chief Constable George Hedges.

And the latest inquiry will no doubt bring further controversy to Barnard Castle Police.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "I can confirm an internal inquiry is underway into the potential misuse of police transport, although no officer has been suspended.

"The inquiry is in its infancy and for that reason we cannot say anything more at this stage."

He went on to confirm that the allegations related to an incident that allegedly took place during the weekend following a complaint by a member of the public.