A CLERK could face disciplinary action for allowing a local political group to print thousands of campaign leaflets using council equipment.

Members of Thornaby Town Council's staffing committee are to decide what should happen to clerk Leanne Plant.

A full council meeting will be held tonight to discuss the matter.

It will be attended by a solicitor from Stockton Borough Council, who will observe the proceedings.

Staffing committee members Ed Kirkham and Kath Milburn are expected to hear what representatives have to say before they decide what action to take.

It is alleged that Miss Plant allowed Thornaby Independents access to printing equipment at the town hall to produce campaign literature for Stockton's local elections in May.

This would breach electoral law.

The matter emerged when people living in Thornaby contacted the authority to ask why the council's name was at the bottom of a leaflet.

Town council chairman Councillor Ivor Morgan said he found three bin liners full of shredded leaflets last weekend.

He was furious and said it put the council in a serious and precarious position because the law may have been infringed.

Coun Morgan confirmed the council was investigating Miss Plant's involvement.

He said: "There will be meeting of the staff committee regarding this matter, but we do not know when that will be held.

"We do know it will be after the meeting on Monday where one of the main things we will be discussing are the leaflets.

"The members will discuss the conduct of the town clerk then feed back their decision to the full council at a later date."

Last week, Thornaby Independents' spokesman, Ken Wallace, a former Labour councillor, defended the group and said they had done nothing wrong.

He said they had a verbal agreement with Miss Plant and had agreed a price for the printing job.

Mr Wallace said the council's name had appeared on the leaflets because of the legal obligation to state where they had been printed.

He also accused the Labour Party of mischief-making.

Miss Plant declined to comment when she was contacted by The Northern Echo.

Tonight's meeting will be held at Thornaby Town Council at 7pm.