County councillor Nick Housden has been suspended by the Gloucestershire Conservatives.

Tory bosses at Shire Hall took action after being made aware of allegations against Cllr Housden, who represents Stonehouse ward.

"As a result, we have decided to suspend Cllr Nick Housden until further notice," said a spokesperson for The Conservative Group on Gloucestershire County Council. "We will not be making any further comments at this time."

The suspension came into effect on Monday and will remain in place until "the situation is clarified," said Cllr Stephen Davies, leader of Gloucestershire County Council and chair of the Gloucestershire Conservatives.

He said no further action was being taken at this time as they were awaiting more details and Cllr Housden will continue to serve on the council.

"It is not in our power to remove him as a councillor if we wanted to," he added.

Details of the allegations against Cllr Housden have not been revealed but the former Stroud district councillor has also resigned from the Carlton Club in Stroud.

He had assumed the role of chairman and manager at the former Conservative Club in London Road in March 2023.

Punchline understands he resigned last week after being told the committee was preparing to cast a vote of no confidence in him.

"The Carlton Club committee have accepted the resignation of Chairman Nick Housden with immediate effect," said a club statement.

"The club will move forward and are looking forward to continuing and welcoming members."

It is not thought that Cllr Housden's suspension will affect the Conservative's hold on the County Council ahead of the next elections in May.

They are a minority administration within the 53-seat council with 25 Conservative councillors.

The Liberal Democrats have 16, Greens five, Labour five and there is one Independent Conservative and Cllr Housden.

Cllr Alastair Chambers, an Independent Conservative, usually votes with the Tory group, and the chairman, who has a deciding vote in the case of a tie, is Conservative.

Punchline has contacted Cllr Housden for a comment.