POLICE investigating allegations of corruption at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have questioned several councillors.

Up to four members of the council's 16-strong Labour group are believed to have been interviewed by detectives in the last 24 hours.

None of the councillors was arrested, and all of them agreed to be questioned.

The move follows the arrest of Labour elected mayor Mark Meredith on March 6 on suspicion of misconduct in public office and complicity in corruption in public office.

He was picked up exactly a week after Conservative councillor Roger Ibbs was arrested on suspicion of corruption in public office.

Both men have since been bailed until June, pending further enquiries.

The councillors who were spoken to are understood to have been questioned about the council's attempts to shut the splash pool at Dimensions Leisure Centre, in Burslem, last year.

Councillor Dave Conway, who was bitterly opposed to the closure and called on top officers to issue a public apology over the matter, is known to have been among those interviewed.

Mr Conway, of Medway Walk, Tunstall, declined to comment about the police interview.

Labour group leader councillor Joy Garner confirmed she was also questioned but declined to comment in detail about the interview.

"If any of our members were asked to help the police with their inquiries it would be or duty to do so and we would be pleased to help," she said.

Burslem North councillor Jean Edwards is also expecting to be questioned. She said this morning: "All I can say is that I am going to be interviewed by the police, but I can not talk about the case.

"It is in the police's hands and they are calling a lot of councillors in."

A Labour Party source, who did not wish to be named, said: "The police questioned four of our members.

"They weren't arrested, but they were warned it would not be advisable to refuse to be interviewed. We've been told not to be interviewed unless there is a Labour Party lawyer present.

"The party is now going to be talking to the police about who else they want to question about this, to make sure they get proper legal representation."

The comments would suggest that detectives may need to speak to more members of the council's 16-strong Labour group.

The party announced last week that it was postponing its annual general meeting, and the election of the group's leader, because of the ongoing corruption inquiry.

Staffordshire Police refused to confirm or deny reports that the councillors had been questioned.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council also declined to comment.