A PENDLE welfare group is being investigated by the Charity Commission following an allegation made by a former mayor of the borough.

But today the Pakistan Welfare Association (PWA) insisted it had nothing to hide and said the organisation was being used as a "political football" between rival parties on Pendle Council.

Former Pendle mayor and Nelson councillor Mohammed Iqbal today said he had passed his allegation of financial irregularities at the Nelson-based voluntary organisation - which provides advice and meals on wheels - to the Charity Commission.

And he denied his actions were "tit-for-tat" and connected to a Standards Board for England (SBE) investigation into his own dealings with the PWA

The SBE last year investigated Coun Iqbal over claims by Lib Dem rival Coun Tony Greaves that he had abused his position when mayor by intervening in a job application at the PWA.

The SBE has now decided to take no action and will shortly publish a full report into the allegations against Coun Iqbbal.

Today Coun Iqbal, who became mayor of Pendle in 2003, said the SBE decision had vindicated him. He added that the allegation he was now making had no connection to the SBE investigation.

But he added: "In my view it's a serious allegation which is affecting tax payers money and I have passed it to the Charity Commission."

Razza Hussain, secretary of the Pakistan Welfare Association (PWA) said the PWA had responded to a request from the Charity Commission for financial information.

He said: "We have nothing to hide and we have said they can inspect anything they want. We want to be transparent."

Becky Drake, spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said a case officer had been appointed to the investigation. She said: "We received complaints in August last year about financial mismanagement and from this we opened a case.

"We have written to the charity who have come back to us and we are waiting to meet the trustees."

The Charity Commission has the power to freeze the PWA's bank accounts, suspend its trustees, send in its own interim manager to sort any problems or even close the charity down.