A SCHOOL governor and former council leader has been suspended from a board of governors after apparently bullying a disabled colleague in front of pupils.

Malcolm Iveson was unanimously voted off Sugar Hill Primary School's board of governors for the maximum period of six months.

His suspension follows an incident concerning fellow governor, Derek Atkinson, which left children at the Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, school shocked.

Sugar Hill is one Durham's few anti-bullying accredited schools and the incident occurred as pupils prepared to take part in national anti bullying week.

Neither Mr Atkinson or Coun Iveson, a former Sedgefield Borough Council leader and Great Aycliffe Town Council councillor, have commented on the issue. However, The Northern Echo has obtained a Durham County Council report which was considered before the vote.

Mr Atkinson, a 59-year-old amputee, writes in his testimony that Coun Iveson began to "badger, bully and hector" him over the contents of a letter.

The letter, written by Mr Atkinson, appeared in a community newspaper praising one of Coun Iveson's town council colleagues.

Mr Atkinson claims Coun Iveson interpreted this as a criticism of himself and "ranted" at him "red faced" as pupils passed through. Coun Iveson claims he merely asked Mr Atkinson for a "quiet word" and that Mr Atkinson's complaint is politically motivated.

But his testimony concedes that it was inappropriate to bring the subject up in front of staff and children.

Two members of staff at the school later complained about the incident.

One said in her testimony she saw an aggressive Coun Iveson shouting at Mr Atkinson and waving his finger in his face.

"Mr Atkinson looked visibly distressed and was leaning back on his two walking sticks," she said. "The children were quite shocked".

Linda Cumming, headteacher, writes in her testimony, that she did not see the incident but that staff expressed "grave concerns".

She said if pupils behaved like that they would have been in serious trouble and that the school has strict anti bullying policies.

However one teacher stated she simply saw two men "totally engrossed in their conversation".

Lynn Swift, chair of governors, last night confirmed a suspension was made in light of representations but would not discuss the governor's identity.