A "LOCAL" councillor in one of Britain's most deprived wards provoked an outcry last night after it emerged he is serving his North-East constituents while living in a Caribbean paradise.

People in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, who need help have to write or phone Stephen Gregory at his home 4,500 miles away in the Dominican Republic.

The Wear Valley district councillor has been living there since January and travelling back occasionally to the UK.

He plans to fly back again soon - a move that will enable him to pick up his councillor's £4,500 allowance.

Last night, he defended his decision to remain on the council, insisting he could still do a good job.

Speaking from the Dominican Republic, Coun Gregory said: "I don't intend to resign. I'm still doing my council duties and it is important work to me.

"I go to as many meetings as I can. I try to time my trips back to the UK to suit council business and try to fit my meetings in then. If there are any problems at Wear Valley District Council people can email me or call, and I'm keeping in close contact with the civic centre via email.

"And there are still other councillors in the ward."

As an independent memberof Wear Valley District Council he musy attend at least one meeting every six months and hae an address in the district to keep his position.

Coun Gregory used to run a butcher's business that became a baker's after the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Although he has sold the business - which continues to carry his name - he has retained the property which enables him to claim an address in the area.

Electors who want to speak to him about council business, from planning issues to litter problems, must now make an overseas call or email him using the address piratesteveuk@hotmail.com.

Since becoming a district councillor in 1999, Coun Gregory has picked up £15,777 in basic allowance payments. He can claim travel expensies - but not from the Dominican Republic.

Local people said they were appalled by the bizarre state of affairs. One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It's like something out of a bad film. How can he claim to have his finger on the pulse of Bishop Auckland living so far away?"

He shares ward duties with Labour Councillor Margaret Jones, who is also fulfilling a busy schedule as the council's chairman.

Coun Gregory sits on two committees, central resources and regeneration, and was asked to attend eight meetings between May and August this year. He has attended one.

Wear Valley District Council leader Olive Brown said: "I don't condone what he is doing but he is perfectly entitled to do it. People elected him to do a job he isn't doing.

"I don't think people of Bishop Auckland are getting fair representation.

"His six months run until December and if he attends one meeting there is nothing we can do. Until he makes his mind up about what he is doing, he remains a councillor."

Coun Gregory has not ruled out moving back to England and refuses to step down from his seat until he has made up his mind about his future.

Later this month he plans a trip back to England from the Dominican Republic - which is recovering from the devastating storms of Hurricane Ivan - and hopes to catch up with council business then. He said: "I have been coming out here on and off for a year. At the moment I'm not out here indefinitely. This time I've been here five weeks and in a week I'll go back for a month.

"For the time being I'm going to see how it goes, up until January. If I don't think it is feasible to stay on the council I will have a rethink."

A spokeswoman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed Coun Gregory could continue in office provided he attended one meeting every six months.