The Charity Commission is seeking to remove all ten trustees of the Durham Mining Convalescent Homes Fund after an inquiry into alleged misuse of funds.

The commission, which regulates the running of charities, has been investigating the fund - set up to look after sick ex-pitmen - since October 2000. It appointed Birmingham solicitor Deborah Oram as receiver and manager in 2001.

The investigation centres on allegations about the misapplication of funds and unauthorised payments.

The charity has no connection with the Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association, which rents homes to ex-pitmen.

A spokeswoman for the commission said: "The trustees have been given individual notice of the commission's intentions and now have one month to make their representations against this proposal."

A spokesman for solicitors representing the trustees said: "We are taking instructions."

* The ten trustees are: Alan Johnson, former Dawdon NUM lodge secretary; Alan Mardghum, ex-Wearmouth lodge secretary; Colin Fowler, chairman of trustees and former area general secretary of the deputies' union Nacods; George Simpson, a former NUM official at Tursdale workshops; Kevin Bell; Joseph Whitworth, former chairman of Easington lodge; Joseph Cogdon, a former enginemen's union official at Wearmouth; John McCowliff, a former Wearmouth lodge official; Idwal Morgan, a national official of the cokeworkers' union, and Philip Duffy King.