FRAUD Squad detectives are probing the affairs of one of the area's leading housing associations after its boss was sacked.

The Leigh-based County Palatine Housing Society says chief executive Mr Barry Neill was dismissed "for gross misconduct".

A society spokesman said: "Mr Neill was dismissed because it was brought to the attention of the board that work had on more than one occasion been carried out for his private benefit and at the society's expense. The approval of the board had been neither sought nor obtained."

A police spokesman said: "Police have received a complaint which has been passed to the commercial fraud squad and they are dealing with it."

County Palatine's housing manager Paul Lees has been appointed acting chief executive.

The society recently moved into plush new headquarters in Leigh town centre and has over 100 employees.

Mr Neill, who was unavailable for comment at his home in Banbury Close, Leigh, is a non-executive director of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority.

Married, with four grown-up children, he is also chairman of Wigan Hospice Council, a member of Leigh Rotary Club, and a founder member and an adviser to the Manchester-based Chinese Housing Association.

He is scheduled to chair the hospice annual meeting next Tuesday night.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.