A SENIOR councillor has resigned from his party after pornographic images were allegedly found on his work computer.

Cllr Philip Portwood, 46, a Labour councillor who served the East Acton ward resigned from the Ealing Labour Group last week after the Standards Board for England began an investigation into images allegedly found on his Ealing Council computer at his Acton home.

Cllr Portwood is a former mayor of Ealing who also held key roles with the London Fire Authority and Association of London Government.

He wrote a letter of resignation to the Ealing Labour Group notifying them of his decision on Monday, May 16.

It read: "I am standing down from council committee posts that I hold, pending completion of an investigation by the Standards Board for England.

"The Standards Board are holding an investigation into allegations that adult pornographic material, inappropriate under the council's code of conduct, was found stored on a computer provided by the council for my use in my household.

"Whatever the result of the investigation, the very fact of being investigated will clearly make me an embarrassment to my friends and colleagues across the council. I profoundly apologise for this to them, and to all who know me."

He has been with Ealing Council for more than 20 years and held key cabinet positions during his time.

The investigation came to light after he asked a council technician to repair the computer earlier this year which had slowed down.

A spokesman for Ealing Council confirmed Mr Portwood was under investigation. He said: "The council took immediate and appropriate action when this matter was brought to our attention by alerting the Standards Board for England, which is now carrying out an investigation.

"We cannot comment further until that investigation is completed."

Cllr Portwood will continue to serve as an independent councillor for East Acton