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

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

Ms Wallace, also a City of York Council, died in 2000 after an accident 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 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."

Police said today that they would not be commenting

Updated: 16:15 Tuesday, March 25, 2003