A COUNCIL leader has accused his political opponents of spying in his office and using information from his personal computer.

Tory Coun Peter Britcliffe called on Hyndburn Council's Labour leader to resign over the allegations - which have been denied.

But Coun Graham Jones responded by saying that Coun Britcliffe was "telling porky pies", and accused him of "dirty political games" and "making stuff up."

The allegations have not been reported to police and council officials said it was being treated "as a matter between political parties."

The Tory leader told a full council meeting that that Labour group had obtained a document on the fight to keep open under-threat Post Offices in the borough from his computer.

He made the allegation after being presented with the leaked document by Coun Jones.

Coun Britcliffe responded by saying: "Why am I not surprised you have that?

"I tell you why I'm not surprised - because members of the Labour group have been seen in my office and going through my computer.

"I think it's awful. It absolutely stinks - it's gutter politics."

After the meeting Coun Britcliffe said: "I reported the computer issue to the IT department at the council."

But Coun Jones hit back at the allegations after the meeting and said: "I have investigated what he has accused my party of and there is absolutely no evidence.

"All the computers at the council are password encrypted so its absolutely ridiculous to claim that my councillors are able to access files.

"Coun Britcliffe frequently calls meetings in his office with councillors and officers and has often got Tory party documents on his desk. I don't think anything untoward has happened but he would only have himself to blame if it did.

"It's like some 1950s witch hunt in America."

A Hyndburn Council spokesperson said: "At this stage this is being treated as a matter between political parties and there are no plans to investigate further."