THE man in charge of Herefordshire Housing has been sacked.

Chief executive Tony Jaques was dismissed following an internal inquiry last Friday.

Mark Robinson, the vice-chair of Herefordshire Housing's Independent Board, said: "Mr Jaques was dismissed at the conclusion of a disciplinary process."

Mr Robinson said he could not go into the reasons for the dismissal because Mr Jaques had announced his intention to appeal.

Mr Jaques, from Woonton, took over at the helm of the independent not-for-profit organisation in May, 2002, when he left his position as head of housing with Herefordshire Council.

In a statement to the Hereford Times, Mr Jaques said: "I have given my utmost to Herefordshire Housing and the decision to dismiss me has totally devastated myself and my family.

"Over my 32 years of public service, I have always placed the greatest emphasis on ensuring that I have operated to the highest personal and professional standards and I refute entirely the allegations that have been found against me.

"I am appealing for re-instatement and failing this will be seeking to prove my innocence and restore my personal and professional reputation through the legal process."