STAFF at the company which runs Bolton's council houses are being disciplined for sending inappropriate emails one of which commented on a co-worker's underwear.

Employees at Bolton at Home exchanged a number of emails about a dispute over a fence.

But they included other inappropriate comments, one of which said: "Tracey is wearing a white thong today! Mmm nice."

The emails would have remained secret had Chris Berry, a 48-year-old local government worker from Smithills, not put in a request under the Freedom of Information Act to discover why a fence had been put up next to his house by Bolton at Home.

He expected to receive details of the official correspondence that made up his case.

But he was shocked to be sent copies of emails sent between different members of staff which included references to "mind bending drugs" and comments about the female colleague's white thong.

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced to make the workings of public sector organisations more transparent to members of the public.

But Mr Berry did not expect it to be so transparent one email referred to the "moans" she expected while she was away from the office while another complained that work carried out next to Mr Berry's home had turned out to be a "complete pain".

In another email discussing a row over the type of fencing used in the scheme, she said: "Wish I hadn't asked the residents now."

Another email predicted that there would be complaints from Mr Berry's household after work was carried out at the site while in another he wrote: "What a cock up, must have been on those mind bending drugs again...Tracey is wearing a white thong today! Mmm nice."

Mr Berry, who has lived in Whittle Grove, Smithills, for 23 years with his wife Heather, said he had contacted Bolton at Home to complain about the emails but had received no response.

But a spokesman from Bolton at Home said a number of staff are being disciplined over the emails.

Mr Berry said: "The content of these emails is completely inappropriate and unprofessional. It makes you wonder what kind of organisation they are running there.

"It shows a completely flippant attitude towards the concerns' of residents."

Mr Berry was initially angry that he had not been consulted before a metal fence was erected next to his private home blocking a path to a green space.

He said the move had led to people regularly coming on to his driveway to attempt to climb the fence. A panel was later taken out of the fence by Bolton at Home to allow people to access the pathway after discussions with Mr Berry.

Smithills councillor Roger Hayes said he could understand why Mr Berry was upset by the emails.

He added: "Some of the comments were totally inappropriate."

Under the act, everyone the right to access information held by the public sector by requesting figures or copies of documents.

A spokesman for Bolton at Home said the organisation was taking the matter very seriously.

She added: "This type of conduct is totally unacceptable and contradicts the ethos and values of the organisation; it is not a reflection of Bolton at Home's 1,100 staff, but of one or two individuals within the organisation.

"Bolton at Home has an email policy in place which seeks to prevent misuse of emails in this way. Staff involved in this case will be disciplined under the terms of this policy."

She would not say how many employees were involved.