Ex-council leader's election ban

Mr Inglis was elected to the council in 1991

The former leader of Hull City Council, Colin Inglis, has been barred from standing for his own party at next year's local elections.

National officials meeting in Hull on Sunday decided to extend his suspension by five months until 31 May 2007.

That means the Myton ward councillor will be unable to stand for Labour at the local council elections on 3 May.

Mr Inglis had breached party rules, including supporting a no-confidence vote in the ruling Labour group.

That paved the way for the Liberal Democrats to take control of the council last May.

Mr Inglis told BBC Look North that he wanted to continue serving as a councillor and was considering his options, including whether to stand as an independent.

He was originally suspended by Labour 18 months ago when he was arrested and charged over child abuse allegations dating back to the 1980s, when he was employed as a social worker at a residential home in east Hull.

He was cleared of 10 charges of indecent assault in July after a two-week trial at Leeds Crown Court.