TENS of thousands of pounds have gone missing from a conservative club.

Members of Shoebury Conservative Club, Ness Road, called in the police after discovering £31,260 had gone astray.

The money appears to have disappeared between August 2016 and September 2017 with the discrepancy coming to light recently.

Police are investigating the alleged theft.

One member, who asked not to be named, said: “The money has gone missing from under the committee’s noses.

“On December 2016 £4,000 went missing and then from January 2017 through to December, a further £28,000 went missing and the money has not been spent by the committee.

“It looks like the systemic syphoning of cash from the club.

“The police are aware but have been slow to act so something needs to be done.

“We are now calling for an independent forensic examination of the accounts.”

The club’s 2017 accounts, which have been seen by the Echo, show that the committee has recorded £31,260 as the “cost of defalcation” - a term which means the misappropriation of funds by a person trusted with its charge.

In accountancy terms, defalcation means a misappropriation of assets or theft of assets by employees or officers of a corporation.

The informant added: “Disgruntled club members are demanding answers from both the committee and the police.

“We want to know where the money has gone and how it went missing.

“How do we know there isn’t more money that has gone missing?

“It has been going on for a long period of time.

“We, as members, don’t know if it is just a failure in financial controls and procedures or if there is something more sinister and it has just been stolen.”

A spokesman for Essex Police has confirmed the force is investigating.

The spokesman said: “We received an allegation of theft in November 2017 relating to the theft of a five figure sum of money between August 2016 and September 2017.

“Our investigation is still ongoing, which includes collating and reviewing a large amount of information.”

The Shoebury Conservative Club was contacted for comment in regard to the missing funds and the reports that someone had been dismissed in relation to the allegations.

A spokesman said: “We cannot comment in light of the ongoing police investigation in relation to this matter.”

It is not thought anyone has been arrested or charged with any crime at this point.

It is not known if anyone has yet been questioned.

Anyone with information can contact Essex Police on 101 speak to Det Con Neil Utley of the Southend policing team.

Alternatively you can report information anonymously to independent crimefighting charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

You can also share information online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information.