CLAIMS staff are leaving in their "droves" costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds have been dismissed as "arrant nonsense" by the leader of Wyre Forest District Council.

Health Concern group leader Liz Davies accused Conservative Stephen Clee of using staff as a political weapon and said she was greatly saddened by his outburst.

Mr Clee said resignations included the authority's senior planning and enforcement solicitor; senior committee clerk; conservation adviser; two Best Value officers and the licensing solicitor.

"The cost to our local council taxpayers is running into hundreds of thousands of pounds when talented staff like this leave after years of expensive training," he added.

"These are terrible losses to the local authority. I would like to see the leader meet with staff in all the directorates and reassure them she is running a smooth ship and there are no icebergs in sight."

But Mrs Davies said: "This claim is simply not true. Employee turnover has been consistent over the last two years with, on average, nine employees per quarter leaving, mainly due to gaining promotion.

"To suggest the turnover is costing hundreds of thousands of pounds is ridiculous. This is another example of Councillor Clee's political mischief."

She added: " He is using staff as weapons to wage political war and that is wrong."