Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow is cleared

Complaints against the leader of Shropshire Council have been thrown out by a national watchdog.

Keith Barrow said today that allegations against him which had been lodged with Standards for England had been "nonsensical".

A series of complaints were made alleging Councillor Barrow had failed to disclose personal interests on official forms or at meetings when items were considered in which he had an interest.

One of the allegations related to a property company with the same name as his house at Trefonen, near Oswestry, but to which he had no connection at all.

Councillor Barrow said: "There was no substance to any of the allegations. The whole thing was nonsensical."

He was disappointed the allegations had involved Freedom of Information requests being made which related to his elderly mother and his wife.

"I know that this sort of stuff comes with the territory when you are in politics, but to involve my mother, who is extremely poorly, and my wife, is a bit low."