FORMER council boss Rodney Hills has been questioned by police over the death of his wife more than two years ago, it emerged yesterday.

The sensational new twist to the long-running controversy surrounding Councillor Hills was revealed by the college lecturer himself in a statement to the Press.

In it, the 56-year-old university lecturer talked of the pain he was suffering at having the tragedy "raked up" again.

He was recently cleared of a series of charges which had been levelled against him, including blackmail, witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice, soliciting a woman for prostitution and wasting police time.

Coun Hills, who was the leader of the City of York Council for almost 20 years, was arrested by police earlier this week and later released.

He was questioned about the death of his wife, Carol Wallace, also a councillor and university lecturer, in December 2000.

She was found dead at their home in Huntington Road, York, with head injuries. Detectives launched a "routine inquiry" and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances.

At her inquest, a coroner found that Coun Wallace died as a result of a fall down the stairs. Her blood alcohol level was more than three times the drink-drive limit.

In his statement yesterday, Coun Hills said: "Earlier this week, I was arrested in connection with my wife's death in December 2000.

"I was devastated by Carol's death and having it all raked up now is very painful, particularly after what I have been through during the past eight months."

He will be meeting police again next Thursday, after which he said he hoped to be able to make another statement.