FORMER City of York Council leader Rod Hills today threatened to take action against the police after serious allegations against him were dropped.

Coun Hills was told an investigation into him involving the death of his wife, Carol Wallace, had concluded, with no action being taken against him.

Ms Wallace, also a City of York Council member, died in 2000 after a fall in the couple's Huntington Road home.

Last year, charges of blackmail, soliciting women for prostitution, perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation were also dropped against Coun Hills.

The latest investigation ended on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Coun Hills, 56, who was a Labour councillor in Clifton, said: "I feel like I have been subjected to a malicious witch-hunt by the police. I want to know why, and I will be talking to my solicitors about what remedies are open to me.

"All the distress of Carol's death has been brought back. I thought I was coming to terms with losing her, but the pain has begun again.

"I would not want anyone to go through what I have been through for the last two months. I hope now that Carol can finally rest in peace."

He said today: "I said that I would clear my name of the scurrilous allegations that were made against me. I have.

"I thought the nightmare was over in January of this year, and then the worst started. Early in the morning of February 3, I was arrested without warning.

"For nearly a year, my life had been a complete nightmare. I was sent to prison, then banned from the city, banned from work and banned from home."

A police spokesman said: "A file has been considered by the Crown Prosecution Service and, as a result of their advice, the man's bail has been cancelled and inquiries have concluded."

Coun Hills resigned as council leader after his arrest in May last year. He was suspended by the party.

Current leader Coun Dave Merrett said on behalf of the York group: "We are relieved and pleased for Rod that the threat of further action has been removed."

Updated: 13:32 Wednesday, March 26, 2003