A SENIOR Tory councillor has been cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The inquiry was launched in February following complaints about Anna Waite's election expenses.

Mrs Waite, who won the St Luke's seat in last May's local elections, had always insisted she had done nothing wrong.

Now the CPS has advised police to proceed no further.

Russell Hayes, spokesman for the CPS, said: "There is no evidence on which to continue investigating and we have advised police it should not be investigated further."

Mrs Waite, a former council leader who lost her seat in Prittlewell in 2006 before successfully winning the St Lukes seat, welcomed the news. She said: "The inquiry has now concluded and I have been informed that there was no case against me, that I did nothing wrong."

The complaint was submitted by Thorpe Independent councillor Ron Woodley.

Mrs Waite said: "It is a shame Mr Woodley felt it necessary to target me in this way and I await his apology.

"It is a totally negative approach and not conducive to adult discussion and moving the council and the town forward.

"I understand that once an official complaint is received by the council, it has no choice but to pass it on. Equally, I understand once it is passed on to the CPS, it has to undertake an inquiry."

Mrs Waite, councillor responsible for planning and transport, said she had found the episode upsetting.

She was supported by Tory leader Nigel Holdcroft, who said: "I was never in any doubt as to the outcome of this, and I regret Mr Woodley felt it necessary to subject Anna Waite to the inevitable stress of an investigation of this kind."

Mr Woodley said: "It was something one of our own (Southend) councillors told us Independents about. I accept they can't take it any further."