A Tory councillor faces further questions over an Irish joke claimed to be racist.

Cllr Ken Bamber, 78, told the joke, in which he used the word 'Paddy', during a break in a dismissal hearing he was chairing last December.

Cllr Bamber's joke failed to amuse Brian Kelly, the UNISON representative, representing the sacked employee.

Mr Kelly, of Irish descent, claims the joke was of racist in intent.

He complained to the Standards Board of England, and is pursuing a separate case at the Employment Tribunal.

Council staff investigated the case for the Standards Board.

But when the case was to be decided on Thursday night investigator, Pete Tonge told the committee that the Board had extended the scope of his inquiry.

They now wanted him to investigate whether Cllr Bamber, ward member for Hoo, did anything that might cause Medway Council to break the 2006 Equality Act.

The independent panel immediately adjourned their own hearing until Mr Tonge had investigated the new charges and will only hear the case after the Employment Tribunal hearing in August.