A PROMINENT councillor and a cricket club official have been arrested on suspicion of fraud against Sport England.

It is understood Pierre Oxley, 40, a district and county councillor, and Gary Kirk, 53, vice chairman of Clacton Cricket Club, are being probed over alleged “misappropriation of funds”.

There is no suggestion they benefited personally.

It is believed a £50,000 grant from Sport England, received two years ago, should have been spent on a sports pavilion but was used for other purposes.

Both men have told the Gazette they are helping police with their inquiries.

Mr Oxley represents Clacton’s St Paul’s ward on Tendring Council and Clacton East on Essex County Council.

He was previously vice chairman of Clacton United Football Club and later chairman of Clacton Cricket Club and Clacton Sports Club.

The grant was for Clacton Sports Club, based at Vista Road Recreation Ground, for six mobile floodlights, new showers and pipework at the shared clubhouse.

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed the men had been arrested in relation to an investigation into allegations of fraud against Sport England.

Mr Oxley has been bailed until October 14 and Mr Kirk until September 16. Neither have been charged.

A spokesman for Sport England said: “We notified the police about the incident and have been assisting them with their inquiries.