LABOUR councillors are calling for a probe into the workings of Preston's Liberal Democrats after the group became embroiled in two potentially damaging scandals.

As the Citizen revealed last week, Coun Joe Fitzgerald, the new representative for Larches, has been suspended by Lib Dem leader Bill Chadwick after a complaint about Coun Fitzgerald's behaviour was filed to the local government watchdog.

The complaint, made by local landlord Joe Kyle, suggested Coun Fitzgerald had abused his position to try and have the licence for Mr Kyle's pub, The Fruit Machine, revoked twice after he was barred from the pub for alleged criminal damage.

Coun Fitzgerald has protested his innocence regarding the incident, which comes just a week after one of the Lib Dems most ardent campaigners, Alan Valentine, was accused of pretending he was a councillor and using Lancashire County Council headed paper when writing to an activist.

Now Labour councillors are calling on new national Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy to investigate the workings of the local party.

Coun Johnstone, who represents Riversway and is responsible for bringing both incidents to light, said: "They must clean up their act and we have asked Charles Kennedy MP to have a good look at what is going on in Preston.

"The Lib Dems need to pre-empt any adverse fining by the Local Government Ombudsman by taking steps to ensure Preston isn't embarrassed further.

"We would urge the Lib Dem members involved to do the decent thing and immediately withdraw from public life."

Coun Bill Chadwick rejected Coun Johnstone's demands, and added: "Alan understands he did something wrong and it won't happen again.

"And in order that Coun Fitzgerald can work towards clearing his name, I have suspended him from all his duties as a Lib Dem councillor. I will give him whatever support is appropriate to help him through this difficult time."

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