TROUBLED councillor Rod Hills has been sacked as leader of York's Labour group as a police investigation into allegations against him continues.

Labour Party members of City of York Council voted at a private group meeting to replace him with Councillor Dave Merrett, who has been acting leader since Coun Hills was suspended by his party last month.

The sacking is the latest twist in a saga which began when North Yorkshire police embarked on an investigation into a reported theft of private and personal photographs from Coun Hills' Huntington Road home in York, and subsequent attempts to circulate them in the city.

Coun Hills' house was searched by police with sniffer dogs last month, and police later arrested him for reasons which, so far, remain undisclosed.

Coun Hills, who is next due to answer his bail on June 20, stood down temporarily as leader of his group and of the council following his arrest.

He said he was doing so to save the authority embarrassment and maintain public confidence in the Labour group.

Following last night's meeting, Coun Merrett remains acting leader of the council, but he is expected to take that role permanently after a vote of the full council, probably on July 15.

Coun Hills' suspension also means he cannot be nominated to the party's panel of election candidates.

Candidates are being selected for the council elections in May next year.

As Coun Hills cannot be selected, he is likely to lose his Clifton seat after 23 years on the council.