PARISH clerk Tony Groves, who has been suspended for the past year, finally left his post this week.

A statement released to The Herald on Tuesday said that Mr Groves "no longer works for the parish council".

It added: "The parish council remains open as usual and is being managed by Peter Stanley, the locum clerk."

His dismissal brings to an end a year which saw one internal and two independent investigations, after the clerk was suspended on September 13, 2011. A disciplinary hearing was held on September 13.

Mr Groves said: "Sadly, I am no longer working for the parish council. I will miss my colleagues, who I have been working with for the last 13 years, and the community, which I have had the pleasure to serve."

Parish councillors have yet to reveal findings of the two investigations, which have cost tax payers tens of thousands of pounds.