AS Steve Turner refuses to stand down as the elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland despite growing calls for his resignation, The Northern Echo has launched a poll to let readers have their say.

Mr Turner published a hard-hitting defence of his stance last night as increasing levels of political pressure hs been applied following the revelation that he is facing a historical allegation of sexual abuse.

A complaint was lodged with the force's Police and Crime Panel who referred the allegation to the Independent Office of Police Conduct for investigation.

The Tory PCC pulled no punches in his defence and branded the campaign as 'politically' motivated as Labour MPs and activists continue to call for him to resign.

Mr Turner, who was elected in May by a landslide mjority, is already subject to a separate referral being assessed by the IOPC after Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald used Parliamentary privilege to accuse him of theft from a Safeway store in Norton, Teesside where he worked in the 1990s.

Nick Thomas Symonds, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, has called for Mr Turner to be suspended from the Conservative party until the outcome of the investigtion is known.

While Bridget Phillipson, Sunderland South MP and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, writing for The Northern Echo, added her voice to the demands for the Tory PCC to be suspended from the party.

Now is the chance for readers to take part in a poll to assess the feelings of members of the public.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054