Two Tory councillors have been cleared of racially abusing Travellers and leading a blockade to stop them camping at a popular beauty spot.

The local government standards watchdog found there was no evidence to support the allegations, made against Brighton and Hove city councillors Geoff Wells and Dee Simson.

Police launched an investigation after the travellers were allegedly called "gipsy scum" when confronted by residents at Happy Valley in Woodingdean, Brighton.

Both councillors were at the scene as tempers flared and residents tried to use vehicles to block the entrance to the park on April 18.

Brighton-based support group Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT), which complained to the newly-formed watchdog, the Standards Board for England, alleged the pair directed racial abuse at travellers and led residents in the attempted blockade.

Couns Wells and Simson have consistently denied the claims.

FFT co-ordinator Emma Nuttall said she was pleased the watchdog had taken the complaint seriously and investigated the allegations.

She said: "I am glad it has found they did not behave inappropriately because councillors have a duty to serve all sections of the population in an equal way and that includes travellers."

Coun Wells said he was pleased he had been exonerated and he would discuss with his solicitor whether he could take action against FFT for making the allegation.

He said: "I am pleased it is all over now. I think it was an unnecessary exercise and a complete waste of time and money."

Coun Simson said: "I am just really pleased. I never broke any code of conduct or made any racist comments."

The Standards Board was set up to police a new national code of conduct for all councillors.