AN MP spoke of his relief last night after police dropped an investigation into a complaint that he assaulted his next-door neighbour's son.

Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell was questioned by officers in July about the allegation after Malcolm Maclure, 31, needed hospital treatment.

An altercation between the two men was said to have taken place following a minor traffic accident on the shared driveway at the rear of their homes in the Linthorpe area of Middlesbrough.

Antique restorer Mr Maclure was minding the family home while his father, retired eye surgeon Gordon Maclure, was away on holiday.

Cleveland Police said yesterday that Mr Bell had been released without charge after answering bail on Sunday and no further action was pending.

A force spokeswoman said: "He answered bail yesterday and the matters against him have been dropped unconditionally.''

The 62-year-old Labour backbencher and Church Commissioner told The Northern Echo last night: "My family and friends knew all along there was no evidence against me and I am delighted this matter is now finally behind me.''

Gordon Maclure was unwilling to comment other than to say he had not been informed of the development.

At the time the assault allegation was made, he said that the families had been neighbours for 18 years, and had got on well apart from recent disputes about the parking at the rear of their homes.

His son, he added, had needed hospital treatment for bruised ribs.

Mr Bell was elected to his seat in 1983 and has a reputation for being a blunt-speaker on the right of the party.

He was Labour spokesman on trade and industry between 1992 and 1997 and a former Labour spokesman on Northern Ireland.