Chief executive leaves authority

Mairi McLean was recruited when the council was rated "poor"

The chief executive of Northampton Borough Council has left her post after almost two-and-a-half years.

The council confirmed that 54-year-old Mairi McLean left on Wednesday.

The authority faced criticism after the latest Audit Commission report stated it had made little progress since it was rated as "poor" three years ago.

The council said in a statement that Ms McLean had helped the council through its "trials and the organisation had emerged strengthened".