POLICE say they will not take action against two City of York Councillors who were forced to step down amid a standards investigation.

Cllr Keith Aspden and Cllr Nigel Ayre – both Liberal Democrats – were asked to stand down from their executive seats in August by Conservative council leader David Carr, who said both men had to vacate their roles to allow a standards board inquiry to be carried out.

The details of the allegations against Cllrs Aspden and Ayre have still not been confirmed, but information was given to police in connection to the inquiry for further, external consideration.

On Tuesday evening, a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the force was never carrying out an investigation into the councillors, only assessing the information provided to them, adding "they are very different processes with different potential outcomes".

The spokesman said: "Following a detailed assessment of information received by North Yorkshire Police, we do not intend to take any further action in relation to this matter."

City of York Council refused to go into detail about the allegations against Cllrs Aspden and Ayre, but a spokesperson said on Wednesday that the internal investigation would go ahead.

Cllr Aspden was deputy leader of the council and held the economic development and community engagement portfolio, while Cllr Ayre held the culture, leisure and tourism brief. Their roles have been taken over by Cllrs Keith Orrell and Cllr Ann Reid, respectively.

Cllr Andrew Waller, who was already executive member for the environment, is currently temporary deputy leader of the council, to fill the role vacated by Cllr Aspden.