ALLEGATIONS of bullying made against the Prime Minister's agent, John Burton, have been referred to the Adjudication Panel for England.

Councillor Burton is alleged to have threatened the former deputy leader of Sedgefield Borough Council, Kester Noble, with deselection if he went against a planning vote.

Coun Burton has denied the allegation, but a report was submitted to the Standards Board for England in January.

A spokeswoman for the board said last night that the case has been referred to the panel, which has the power to suspend a councillor for up to a year or disqualify an individual from becoming a councillor for up to five years. It can also find that there has been no breach of the regulations.

Referring the case to the panel is one of four possible decisions by the standards board.As well as finding no breach, or a minor breach, it can refer hearings to a local standards committee, which only has the power to suspend for three months.

Coun Burton is accused of threatening Mr Noble with deselection from the Labour Party if he did not support a £20m housing development in Trimdon, less than a mile from Tony Blair's County Durham home. Mr Noble was deselected last month,

The hearing will be on September 5.

Last night, Coun Burton said he could not comment.