TWO Oxford city councillors are being investigated by a national watchdog over an alleged breach of conduct.

The Standards Board for England is probing a claim the councillors broke the members' code of conduct, but has refused to tell The Oxford Times exactly what it is they are investigating or who it involves.

The Town Hall has also remained tight-lipped on the issue.

Last night, The Oxford Times was told to use the Freedom of Information Act to request the information.

William Reed, Oxford City Council's democratic services manager, said: "Information supplied to the standards board to assist it in investigations is subject to confidentiality and release of it is a criminal offence.

"At the end of the process a report is issued and it may be released from confidentiality."

Celia Cook, spokesman for the Standards Board for England, said: "On average we receive approximately 300 allegations a month.

"This means it is conceivable there might be an average of 40 or more present or past allegations or investigations for any one of the larger authorities over the last two years. We do not have the resources to check all that information against a long list of names.

"You are entitled to request this information under the Freedom of Information Act, but I am afraid I cannot deal with it as a press inquiry."