AN Independent councillor is refusing to answer to a scrutiny panel examining his connections with a fugitive accused of being a bogus solicitor.

Ex-policeman Adrian Shurmer claimed he was the victim of a "witch hunt" and said he would have nothing to do with the standards panel of three Labour and three Conservative councillors set up by Hyndburn Council.

Alleged bogus solicitor Anthony Burton met council bosses while on the run from detectives. He was introduced to the council by Coun Shurmer.

Coun Shurmer claimed the panel would be nothing more than a "kangaroo court" out to discredit him.

Coun Shurmer said: "I refuse to submit myself to what appears to be a pseudo-legal investigation into circumstances where no impropriety, crime or illegality has taken place.

"It is a kangaroo court and they are out to try me. I got a letter from the legal department, they are pathetic questions and I refuse to answer them. This panel is a witch hunt to discredit me and to have me shut up because I am making allegations of corruption." Coun Shurmer said he had no reason to believe Burton was not who he said he was.

Burton met councillors at Hyndburn Council offices in Eagle Street, Accrington, in June.

Coun Shurmer, a leading campaigner against traffic calming measures, helped put Burton's name forward to the council's traffic management review board for legal consultancy work.

Council bosses discovered that Burton was a wanted man at the time and contacted fraud squad detectives in Manchester.

Police said yesterday that Burton was still on the run after failing to appear at Crown Court to answer charges of impersonating a solicitor.

A council spokesman said: "Hyndburn Council is establishing a standards committee as part of the general modernisation of local government.

"The committee will advise all members of the council on ethical matters."

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