A SENIOR North-East MP has been interviewed by police about an allegation of assault after a neighbour's son needed hospital treatment, it was revealed yesterday.

Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell was released on police bail after being questioned last Friday evening.

The 62-year-old Labour backbencher and Church Commissioner is understood to have become involved in an altercation with the son of neighbour Gordon Maclure.

The incident followed a minor traffic accident on the shared driveway at the rear of their homes in the Linthorpe area of Middlesbrough.

Mr Bell's wife Margaret is believed to have been reversing a Ford Mondeo out of the driveway when she was involved in a collision with a van belonging to 31-year-old Malcolm Maclure, who was minding the family home while his father was away on holiday.

An argument followed and Mr Bell came out of the house and became involved in the row, before returning to his home. Police arrived later and took the MP to a police station for questioning.

Gordon Maclure, 68, said that his son, who runs his own antique restoring business, needed hospital treatment for bruised ribs.

The retired eye surgeon said: ''I don't want to say too much about what happened because I was not here at the time and my knowledge of it is a little vague.

''What I can say is my son needed to attend the local hospital after what happened and I am shocked and saddened by what I have heard.

''Apparently there was a fracas some time on Friday and people have reported that voices were raised. I was told language was used which I have not heard the like of since I was in the Forces.''

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: ''We can confirm Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell was interviewed following an allegation of assault in the Linthorpe area of Middlesbrough on Friday, July 7.

''Police inquiries are continuing and Mr Bell was bailed pending further inquiries.''

Mr Bell's solicitor and family friend, Donald O'Rourke, said: ''He has not been charged with any offence. He cannot make any further statement on this issue.''

He added: ''It seems to me this is much ado about nothing and I will be very surprised if anything comes of it.''

The MP appeared in the Commons yesterday to answer questions on behalf of the Church Commissioners, who oversee the work of the Church of England. Mr Bell did not mention his brush with the law.

Mr Bell was elected to his seat in 1983 and has a reputation for being a blunt-speaker on the right of the party.

He was Labour spokesman on trade and industry between 1992 and 1997 and a former Labour spokesman on Northern Ireland.

Gordon Maclure added last night: "Our family has lived here for 31 years and Mr Bell has been our neighbour for 18 years.

"We always got on very well, but there have been two other incidents in the last 12 months involving parking at the rear of the house.

''The police have been round today and it is now in their hands as to what they want to do.''