THE Government watchdog investigating the £5 million sale of the city council's shares in the Britannia Stadium to Stoke City has demanded more information.

The Audit Commission has already spent more than a year looking into the sale of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's 36 per cent stake in the ground to Stoke City in December 2007.

The auditors were called in by former Labour group leader Councillor Mike Barnes in September last year.

He claimed councillors who approved the sale at a full council meeting in May 2007 were not made aware that £4.5 million of the cash was only being repaid in three annual instalments with £1.25 million still outstanding.

The Audit Commission asked the council's own internal auditors to examine the concerns at the end of last year and report back with their findings.

The inquiry was expected to last a matter of months.

But it has now emerged that no report is likely to appear until next year.

News of the request for further information emerged after Stoke and Trent Vale member, Councillor Paul Billington, asked the authority if any elected members had seen the auditors' draft report which had been sent to former interim chief executive Chris Harman earlier this year.

He also asked who had given the authority permission to vary the terms of the deal to enable Stoke City to spread the repayments without paying interest on the outstanding balance.

And he questioned whether any of the money had benefited the regeneration of Stoke town centre.

In response, the council said: "Following an investigation carried out by the city council's internal audit services, further information has come to light.

"As a result, following liaison with the district auditor, further work is needed to complete the investigation.

"It is anticipated that this will be concluded early next year."

Mr Billington is unhappy with the council's response.

He said: "The district auditor had said he wanted this report wrapped up before the end of the year, and now we're being told it won't be finished until next year.

"I'm also concerned no elected members have seen the draft report or the district auditor's comments, but a number of officers have seen them."

Potteries Alliance leader Councillor Peter Kent-Baguley also hit out at the delays.

He said: "It is absolutely appalling and I am deeply suspicious of this latest delay.

"The district auditor stated several months ago that the investigation was complete.

"But now we are told more investigation is required, which raises questions about the transparency and probity of the whole exercise."

But cabinet member for resources, Councillor Kieran Clarke, does not expect the report to be highly critical of the stadium deal.

He said: "The auditor's report is still a draft, so no elected members have seen it yet.

"The money was used to finance the development of the Stoke Local Centre, and by funding it directly the council has saved about £240,000 a year in capital interest payments."