THE long-awaited District Auditor's report into the Crinkley Bottom fiasco has been described as an "extraordinary whitewash" by the man who raised the alarm.

Mike Ford of Silverdale has handed the Auditor's 200-page report to his barrister with a view to making an appeal to the High Court.

Clive Portman's report and statement of reasons finds that former Lancaster City Council officers involved in 'Blobbygate' had, in parts, acted unlawfully, irrationally, mistakenly and imprudently.

But Mr Portman's claim that none of their actions were 'wilful' has stunned many, including Crinkley Bottom's creator Noel Edmonds.

Principal objector and retired Brigadier Mike Ford says that he now regrets having been persuaded to make the objection.

"The auditor's report is the most extraordinary whitewash," he says. "The fact that it took four and a half years and cost £600,000 is appalling. I now deeply regret being persuaded at a meeting with the auditor to make a formal objection...

"It was not the course of action I had wanted to pursue but I was persuaded."

He adds: "The most incredible thing is that the auditor suggests that those responsible of the unlawful behaviour did not know what they were doing, which I find staggering.

"And the fact that, in the auditor's mind, it does not matter that the former Town Clerk misled people from the beginning, offers carte blanche to officers to act with impunity."

Noel Edmonds, who was paid £950,000 by the city council and given an apology fol-lowing the debacle, was also astounded.

He said: "We wanted people investigated be-cause they cheated the people of Morecambe out of something very significant. I thought Morecambe was fam-ous for shrimps, now it's notorious for fudge."