A COUNCIL has replaced a former official who has been on sick leave since he disappeared for two months last summer.

Spennymoor Town Council has appointed Pauline Wilson as the new full time town clerk, replacing Terry Robson in the position.

Mrs Wilson, a solicitor and former monitoring officer for Chester-le-Street District Council, held the post on a temporary basis for six months during his absence.

The council held a special meeting last week at which members unanimously voted to make Mrs Wilson's post permanent.

Council leader John Marr said: "It has been an unsettling few months and people of Spennymoor want to know they have a dedicated town clerk in post."

Mr Robson vanished from his home in Kirk Merrington in June last year and was found in Edinburgh two months later. A police investigation into allegations that thousands of pounds had gone missing from a trust fund he was responsible for was later dropped and no further action is to be taken.