A DISAGREEMENT between two politicians which could have lost people in Redcar and east Cleveland the chance to question a police chief, has been resolved.

As reported in yesterday's edition of The Northern Echo, the squabble erupted over a series of letters which Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader David Walsh and Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, claimed to have sent to one another.

Now Cleveland Police Authority has admitted that its staff had failed to pass on to its chairman Councillor Walsh's letters agreeing to a request for Cleveland Police Chief Constable Barry Shaw to speak at a council meeting.

A spokesman said: "The lead officer of the police authority has been in touch with Coun Walsh to apologise for what was an administrative error.

"It is hoped that it will now be possible to move quickly towards arranging a meeting at which the chief constable will be able to speak with all members of Redcar and Cleveland Council, with Press and public able to attend."

Coun Walsh said he was relieved the letters had been found and that the meeting, where people will be able to put questions on policing to Mr Shaw, would go ahead.