A REPORT on a suspended chief council officer has now been completed and is being considered by his bosses.

Allan Rainford, Hyndburn Borough Council's finance director for the past three years, was suspended on full pay pending the outcome of the inquiry.

The 44-year-old said at the time he had been told "misuse of computer facilities" was under investigation.

Mr Rainford, who lives in Cheshire, could face the sack if the report finds there is a case to answer.

Speaking days after his suspension he said he felt he had been made a scapegoat because of a report into the overpayment of councillors' expenses.

Government officials found widespread overclaiming of expenses by members dating back to 1996, and said officers had not been checking expenses correctly.

"I was threatened with disciplinary action by the chief executive, and felt increasingly vulnerable from then on," Mr Rainford said.

"I felt that, whenever anything went wrong I would be blamed".

He said he had told council manager Mike Chambers he felt his role was becoming untenable.

Mr Chambers confirmed yesterday he had received the report on Mr Rainford last Friday but could not give any indication of when a decision would be made.

He said: "The priority is doing this thing properly so we will not constrain ourselves by time. We are following a procedure and that will lead us to a conclusion."

Mr Rainford could not be contacted for comment.