CONTROVERSIAL former council boss Rod Hills has been arrested again by detectives, it emerged yesterday.

Police would say only that a 56-year-old man had been arrested in connection with an inquiry, but declined to say who he was or what was being investigated.

But it is understood the man was Mr Hills, a York University lecturer and the former leader of the City of York Council, and that he was later released on bail.

Mr Hills was arrested last year on a series of allegations but was later cleared of the charges, which included blackmail, witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice, soliciting a woman for prostitution and wasting police time.

He resigned his post as leader of the council after he was arrested last year.

He retained his position as a ward councillor and remains a member of the Labour Party. However, he has said he was considering leaving the party because of the way he felt he was treated by the organisation.

He had been council leader since 1984, and led the council through its transition to a unitary authority in 1995. He was made an MBE for his service to politics.

His wife, Carol Wallace, was also a Labour councillor for the Bishophill ward of City of York Council until her death in a fall at the couple's home shortly before Christmas 2000.