THE steward and stewardess of Chatteris Conservative Club have been suspended pending a probe into large sums of money allegedly missing from the accounts.

Businessman Geoffrey Brinton, the club’s vice chairman, confirmed today that Tony and Lynn Dooley were suspended four days before Christmas.

Mr Brinton said “facts and figures were looked at, no satisfactory explanation could be provided” and so the Dooleys were suspended.

He confirmed Cambridgeshire Police were involved and the outcome would be notified in due time to members.

It is not known whether Mr and Mrs Dooley, who have run the club for the past four and a half years, are still living locally.

Mr Brinton said that although two previous stewards had previously left the club without serving out a notice period, it was “part of the nature of these sorts of things. Things happen.”

Club chairman is Councillor John Chambers and there is a bar and finance committee which is responsible for the day to day running of the business.

The private members club was formed nearly 100 years ago, originally for men only and over the years the King Edwards Road premises have been upgraded and local ‘celebrity’ members included snooker player Joe Perry and former professional boxer Dave ‘Boy’ Green.

Mr Brinton confirmed the club was remaining open and being managed by temporary staff.

He would not confirm reports circulating among club members that as much as �30,000 was involved.