TWO councillors are facing a disciplinary hearing following a Standards Board investigation into a parish council feud.

The board, which regulates the conduct of councillors across the country, has passed a report on Stanhope Parish Councillors John Shuttleworth and Richard Mews to the monitoring officer at Wear Valley District Council.

Both men are also district council members, and Coun Shuttleworth represents Weardale on Durham County Council.

The board's investigation into complaints against them, and six other parish councillors, opened on August 9.

It followed a series of stormy meetings over the summer, with the council split into two camps over the sacking of clerk Val Ward.

Last night, the board said that no action would be taken against six members - Raymond Ayre, Angela Bolam, Dennis Craig, Diana Sutcliff, Malcolm Skipp and Ronnie Tanner - who had faced allegations of failing to treat others with respect and bringing the office of councillor into disrepute.

A spokeswoman for the board said: "Allegations against councillors Mews and Shuttleworth have been referred to the monitoring officer at the local authority.

"There will be a hearing which will consider whether the code of conduct has been breached by these two councillors."

Last week, an employment tribunal in Newcastle awarded Mrs Ward £2,686 compensation for unfair dismissal after hearing that some members had not sought expert advice over the sacking.

Coun Shuttleworth, who is parish vice-chairman, said last night he may not turn up for the hearing.

He said: "This means very little and it doesn't concern me one iota.

"What has been done has been done for the parishioners of Stanhope and I wouldn't change anything.

"All I am concerned about is getting jobs and services."

Council chairman Tom Martin and last year's chairman Harry Irwin issued a statement which said: "We have supported the clerk during her extremely difficult period and have had to deal with several ugly incidents at council meetings.

"We shall continue to ensure, as far as practicable, the correct use of council money and hope that justice will be done in the final analysis with regard to the accused councillors."