TWO councillors who face a disciplinary hearing next week have been elected to the top posts on a parish council.

Chairman John Shuttleworth and vice-chairman Richard Mews were elected unopposed at Stanhope Parish Council's annual meeting in the Town Hall.

A three-man standards committee panel meets in Crook on Tuesday to decide whether both men breached a code of conduct during a long-running episode last year which involved the sacking of clerk Val Ward and the eventual resignation of previous chairman Tom Martin and former chairman Harry Irwin.

They were challenged at the annual meeting by Councillor David Quainton, who had supported Mr Martin and Mr Irwin during the row.

Coun Quainton abstained from the voting after asking each one: "Do you think, with the standards board meeting coming up, you are a suitable person to be chairing this meeting?"

Coun Mews replied: "I think that question is insulting."

Frank Burdis and Trevor Thompson have filled the Stanhope seats left vacant by the resignations. They were elected unopposed.

The council paid Newcastle lawyers Ward Hadaway £4,285, including VAT, for legal work surrounding an employment tribunal which ruled Mrs Ward was unfairly dismissed.

Mrs Ward was awarded £2,686 compensation, although Coun Mews told a meeting in March that he, Coun Shuttleworth and Coun Angela Bolam had shared the work, saving £1,950.