A councillor has been accused of saying it would be easier not to employ disabled people.

Tory Averil Older has vehemently denied the claim made by Labour's Sue John, deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council.

She is now asking the Standards Board for England to intervene in a bid to clear her name.

The row centres on the proposed redevelopment of Hove library in Church Road.

As the 100-year-old building does not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, which comes into force later this year, it must be adapted to make access for the disabled easier or move to Hove Town Hall.

A panel was formed to investigate and during a meeting there was a discussion between Coun John, who favours the town hall transfer, and Coun Older, who wants the library to stay put.

Afterwards, Coun John wrote to former councillor Steve Collier, who was interested in the issue.

She said: "I am sure you would not concur with Coun Averil Older that the Act is something to be got around or that it would be easier if the council did not have to employ disabled people."

An outraged Coun Older insisted she did not make either comment.

She also pointed out that the panel's discussion was in confidence.

Coun Older declined to comment to The Argus.

Coun John also refused but said she had witnesses to verify her version of events.

The board is an independent body that investigates allegations of misconduct where councillors are thought to have breached the Code of Conduct.

It is responsible for promoting high ethical standards and investigating allegations of members' behaviour.

The board will now have to decide whether to take up the complaint and who is at fault.

Coun John, 46, has been on the city council since its inception in 1997 and served on the old Hove Borough Council for two years before that.

She is married with two children and lives in West Hove. When not involved in council work, she runs the constituency office for Hove MP Ivor Caplin.

Coun Older, 58, who represents Central Hove, is a member of the adult social care and planning committee. She also serves on the council's own standards committee.

Divorced, with one daughter, she lives with a partner in central Hove and used to be a guide at the Royal Pavilion.