TWITTER claims that the controversial sale of a Grade I Listed building was "dodgy" have been quashed by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and a council’s own standards committee.

In November, Middlesbrough mayor, Ray Mallon, told independent councillor Len Junier to “put up or shut up” following comments made on the social networking site about Acklam Hall.

It had been suggested that the deal brokered by former owners Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough College with developer Acklam Hall Ltd was "dodgy" as the land was worth £750,000 per acre, but only £600,000 was paid for the dilapidated Restoration mansion and its 32 acres of land.

Mr Mallon urged Cllr Junier and others who implied wrongdoing to pass any criminal evidence to police and voluntarily referred himself to the council’s standards committee.

An independent advisor has deemed than no further action is warranted as no proof of improper conduct or behaviour had been put forward.

The council said Mr Junier had written to Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, at the Department for Communities and Local Government calling for an investigation, however a response received recently by the local authority decided that the issue was “entirely a local matter".

Following years of negotiations with English Heritage and prospective developers, the town’s only Grade I Listed building is now undergoing a £2m transformation to turn it into a wedding venue and restaurant with luxury housing in its grounds to create a Wynyard-style estate.

Mr Mallon said: “Those who post on social media sites would do well to remember that their views are published for all to see, just as if they were in a newspaper.

“The allegations and inferences made online about the Acklam Hall project were scurrilous, damaging and entirely without foundation, and I trust those responsible will choose their words more carefully in future.

“I am pleased that those involved have confirmed in writing that they did not intend to infer any wrongdoing on my part or on the part of any other member or officer of this council, Middlesbrough College or Acklam Hall Ltd.

He added: “I have been disappointed by the conduct of Councillor Len Junier and his associates, but I am satisfied that we can now draw a line under the matter and move on.”

Mr Junier who is standing as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming mayoral election, said: "A written response to the Acklam Hall press release will be released once I have had the opportunity to study its content.

"My response will include information that, to date, Ray Mallon and Councillor Dave Budd have made no reference to.

“At this time it would be inappropriate to comment further and as such the people of Middlesbrough will then be better able to form their own opinion.”