A POLICE force was accused of a cover-up last night after clearing its chief constable of wasting nearly £30,000 of public money on a shower.

North Yorkshire Police came under fire for paying £28,379 for the facility for its chief constable.

But following an investigation, the county's police authority has cleared Chief Constable Della Cannings of any wrongdoing.

Instead, it blames two members of the force's estates department, who have since left the organisation.

But this has not satisfied Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

"The report is a whitewash. I think people will be angered that money can be used this way," he said.

"This money could have been used to put extra officers on the streets."

Last year, Ms Canning looked to upgrade the shower facility next to her office at the force's headquarters in Newby Wiske, near Northallerton.

The force was said to have been given an initial estimate of £6,000 for the work.

However, it was revealed yesterday that although a detailed costing exercise had been asked for, it was not carried out by the estates department.

And the police authority report found no evidence of a quotation of costs for the work.

It says Ms Cannings was given an oral estimate of £6,000 from the estates department manager.

The report said Ms Cannings was unaware of the costs.

Instead, the authority criticises the estates department for not exercising enough control with the scheme and its costings.

Speaking afterwards, Ms Cannings said: "I am reassured that nothing has taken place which is unlawful and that none of the police authority rules have been broken.

"I am disappointed, however, that the way in which this project was managed was far from satisfactory, rising costs were not controlled and senior management, including myself, were not informed."