NEWSPAPER bosses have rejected complaints made by Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson against the editor of his local paper.

Johnston Press, publisher of the Hartlepool Mail, confirmed yesterday that editor Harry Blackwood was "away from the office on sick leave".

The Northern Echo understands that Mr Blackwood is the subject of disciplinary proceedings over allegations which came to light during an inquiry into complaints made by Mr Mandelson and the local Labour Party.

But Andrew Smith, editorial director of NorthEast Press, the Hartlepool Mail's parent company, said yesterday: "It is true that Peter Mandelson has complained in the past about articles in the Hartlepool Mail, as all MPs and politicians are prone to do. All of his complaints have been thoroughly investigated and rejected."

Mr Smith, a former editor of the Hartlepool Mail, has taken direct responsibility for the paper "for the time being".

The Labour Party in Hartlepool is known to have been unhappy with the paper's coverage of last year's Mayoral elections, which resulted in victory for Stuart Drummond, an independent candidate standing as H'Angus the Monkey.

Mr Blackwood was unable to comment yesterday.