THE executive director of a £635,000-a-year organisation which works with Barnsley's ethnic minorities has been off work several weeks amid reports he is suspended.

Trenton Wiggan has not been at Barnsley Black and Ethnic Minority Initiative for about a month. It is understood he has been suspended and an investigation into financial irregularities is imminent.

Business manager Chris Simms said she could not talk to the press, because of BBEMI policy.

She said chairman Peter Lleshi was the only person able to comment but despite several attempts to contact him Mr Lleshi was not available.

Barnsley Council chief executive Phil Coppard said: "I have no reason to think there is anything wrong at BBEMI. I have had a request from the chairman for a meeting and my assumption is he is coming to tell us what has happened."

Mr Wiggan was unavailable for comment.