POLICE were last night trying to contact a Blackpool Borough Council officer who has vanished following the revelation that £30,000 is missing from council funds.

Landlord Liaison Officer Peter Earnshaw, 36, believed to have a home address in Rossall, has not been seen since January.

And Tory Leader Councillor Peter Callow questioned why the man was never arrested and why the matter has only been revealed in the past few days.

Routine security checks detected peculiarities in early December and Mr Earnshaw was immediately suspended on full pay.

Finance Director Julian Kearsley told The Citizen: "I personally suspended him and he was visibly shocked. He took his personal belongings and was escorted out of the building straight away."

After an investigation led by Chief Internal Auditor Mr Bob Fletcher, Mr Earnshaw was called to an investigatory interview but he didn't turn up.

Julian Kearsley added: "When Mr Earnshaw didn't turn up for his disciplinary hearing he was dismissed in his absence, a letter was sent to his address and his pay was stopped. The matter was then referred to the police."

DC Chris Williams, of Blackpool police, said: "In early January we received a complaint from the council about the loss of monies. No-one has been arrested. We are not focusing our search in Ireland as has been reported and our inquiry is on-going. But we have made no further progress in the past few days."

Coun Callow said: " The council have attempted to handle this in-house and have locked the stable doors after the horse has bolted!"