A GOLF professional and ten golf club staff have lost their jobs after a council decided to call in a £9,000 debt.

Alan Hartley, who ran the clubhouse, driving range and golf academy at the municipally-owned Roseberry Grange Club, West Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, withdrew from his contract with Chester-le-Street District Council last week, which resulted in ten staff being made redundant.

The move was prompted by an ultimatum from the council, delivered last Monday, to settle his £9,000 debt by Tuesday or relinquish his lease.

Mr Hartley claims that when he took over the businesses from the council four years ago, he increased the driving range's takings from £16,000 to £45,000 in a year, and increased bar profits from £35,000 to £130,000.

He says he saved the council £140,000 over four years, as well as establishing a nationally-renowned children's golf academy.

During the past two years, Mr Hartley got into financial difficulties due to a combination of the foot-and-mouth crisis and bad weather.

Mr Hartley, 44, of Garden Farm, Chester-le-Street, said: "There have been no negotiations whatsoever. I have put £70,000 of my own into the place and the council has not wanted to know. It's been a nightmare."

North Durham MP Kevan Jones has written to the council twice and plans to send another letter asking why it has forced Mr Hartley out.

He said: "I very much sympathise with Mr Hartley's predicament and will be asking why the council has taken the action it has.

"The replies I have had have been unsatisfactory and I want to know why it has not explored other options."

A sacked golf club employee, who did not wish to be named, said: "Mr Hartley and all the staff worked tirelessly for that place, but the council has just put obstacles in the way. It has thrown people's livelihoods to one side."

Ian Simon, the council's leisure services manager, said: "We have had numerous meetings with Alan, and have very reluctantly had to take action to prevent the situation from worsening.

"We have a responsibility to protect the council's assets and public money.

"There's absolutely no threat to the future of the course."