AN official investigation into a long-serving Rossendale councillor has been set in motion.

On Wednesday night an independent chairman was set up and the terms of the inquiry into David Stansfield agreed.

The Rossendale and Darwen Conservative Association confirmed his weekend suspension during the inquiry whicvh is expected to last four weeks.

This means Cllr Stansfield can only sit as an Independent at meetings of Rossendale Borough Council representing Helmshore ward or of Lancashire County Council representing Rossendale West .

The maximum penalty availbel to the investigation is expulsion from the Tory Party.

Rossendale and Darwen Conservative Association chairman Lee Parker said yesterday: “We have set up an investigation into Cllr Stansfield and appointed an independent chairman from the North West party to conduct it.

“It would be unfair to Cllr Stansfield to discuss the reason for this investigation while it is under way.”

Cllr Stansfield was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Healey and Whitworth Labour councillor Sean Serridge said: “I find it bizarre that the Conservative Party will not give the reason for this investigation and would like to know if it is connected to the recent revelation that an unnamed Rossendale councillor was fined for a benefit overpayment.”

Earlier this month it was revealed that a Rossendale councillor had paid a £1,000 fine for receiving an overpayment of benefits.

The borough council has refused to the name the elected representative.

The overpayment is understood to concern council tax benefit. The fine is the maximum penalty available without court action.