July 2008 – The Audit Commission announced that it had launched an investigation into Uttoxeter Town Council following revelations the authority was £27,000 in debt at the end of the past financial year

July 2008 – Uttoxeter Town Council warned it will have to tighten the purse strings for the next three years in a bid to rebuild exhausted funds

December 2008 – Audit Commission advises Uttoxeter Town Council to instigate an independent valuation before exchanging contracts over the sale of land at the rear of the town hall

January 2009 – Uttoxeter Town Council informed a bill from the Audit Commission would be, at the time, upwards of £5,000

January 2009 – Uttoxeter town clerk Barry Holland confesses finances were likely to be tight as the authority awaits a bill from the Audit Commission expected to be in excess of £5,000

April 2009 – The Audit Commission demands more information from members of the town council about the state of the authority's bank balance

May 2009 – Top Tory councillor David Brookes, pictured, insists the town council is "completely in the clear" as the Audit Commission prepares to give its verdict on the financial position of the authority

July 2009 – Announcement made that Audit Commission preparing to release its finding following year-long probe into the council's dwindling finances

August 2009 – It was revealed taxpayers will have to bail out Uttoxeter Town Council after authority "accidently" claimed an extra £31,000 in VAT.

January 2010 – Audit Commission publishes long-awaited report into council's finances.