MYSTERY surrounds the allegations which led to the shock resignation of Woodhey High School's chairman of governors last Wednesday.

In a statement Mrs Julie Goulding, Bury's director of personal and community services, said Mr Ratcliff had offered his resignation, which had been accepted by the local authority. She stressed the allegations, which had been investigated thoroughly, were unsubstantiated and were made by an anonymous caller.

She refused to comment on the nature of the allegations but added they were in "no way", related to the school.

Governors are said to be "shocked and upset " at the news.

Councillor Sheila Barnes and Luise Nandy, both school governors, told the Bury Times that they were mystified at what the allegations were about. Mr Ratcliff has been a governor of several local schools, and had been a Woodhey governor for 15 years. The father-of-two had vigorously campaigned for better funding for Bury's schools.

Earlier this year, Mr Ratcliff came under fire from parents following the controversial decision not to appoint Mrs Lynn Dunning, Woodhey's former deputy head, as headteacher following Mr Frank Bennet's retirement.

Coun Barnes added: "We were looking forward to the future and backing the new headteacher, Mr Martin Braidley.

"I would like to thank Mr Ratcliff for his work with the school."

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