THE disqualification of a councillor accused of trying to alter minutes of a school governors meeting is being investigated.

Durham county councillor for Lanchester Tom Forster has been suspended by his party pending an inquiry by the National Executive Committee and the whips office of the Labour group on the council.

Last month, the council's Labour leader, Albert Nugent, said he was taking no further action as an investigation into the allegations by the council's monitoring officer had proved "inconclusive".

Councillor Forster was one of the governors of Burnhope Primary School, but was barred because he did not attend meetings.

He allegedly asked clerk Michael Tallentire and chairman Alan Heslop to change the minutes of the meeting where it was decided to kick him out.

Labour regional director Fiona Twycross said: "Tom Forster was subject to an administrative suspension following allegations made by the governors of a local school to the leader of Durham County Council. He has now written to the director of compliance for the Labour Party apologising to colleagues, to the school and particularly to the local education authority clerk, for his actions.

"He acknowledges that his actions were unwise and may inadvertently appear to have placed pressure on an officer.

"This matter is being considered by head office and we are hoping for a speedy resolution."

Councillor Forster, who is vice-chairman of the council's corporate management issues scrutiny sub-committee, could not be contacted for comment.

The chairman of Burnhope Primary School's governors, Alan Heslop, said: "If he has been suspended and there's an investigation there is somebody at County Hall who is after Tommy's blood. It certainly hasn't come from us. It is definitely nothing to do with the governors."

An email, seen by the Northern Echo, from group chief whip John Maddison to councillors refers to an investigation by the Standards Board, the national body which polices councillors' behaviour.

But a spokeswoman for the board said: "There are no ongoing investigations at present."

The email says that Coun Forster's suspension came into effect on Friday, February 23.