AN under-fire council leader has launched a scathing attack on local Tories who, he says, are undermining his council's attempt to get a controversial bail hostel blocked.

Chester-le-Street District Council leader, Malcolm Pratt, has accused Tories, and General Election candidate Matthew Palmer in particular, of putting politics before people.

His outburst follows accusations from Mr Palmer last week that councillors sent Probation Service bosses a list of suitable sites for the bail hostel.

The simmering tension between the council leader and Mr Palmer has also been stoked up by the election hopeful's allegation that Labour's prospective MP, Kevan Jones, had admitted that Mr Pratt was "not his favourite person".

A statement issued from Councillor Pratt accused the Tories of using the bail hostel issue for political capital.

He said: "Until they adopted their prospective parliamentary candidate they showed no interest whatsoever in the issue, but now are trying to destroy the excellent relationship which has built up between those opposed to a bail hostel and the council.

"They are preying on people's fears, yet once the General Election is over we will probably never hear from Mr Palmer again. He will retreat to London and not give a jot about the outcome of the planning appeal which the council is working so hard to win."

Mr Palmer, who will contest one of the safest Labour seats in the country next month, Durham North, said he was working hard to have the hostel stopped and is backing residents.

He said: "It is the Labour-controlled council that is now denying responsibility for everything it has done for the bail hostel."