AN investigation has failed to unearth thousands of pounds in cash which went missing from a district council’s offices.

Police were called in after allegations that £6,097.85 was stolen from the Vale of White Horse District Council offices in Abbey House, Abingdon, on July 31. Officers advised the council to carry out an internal investigation, but that has failed to establish if the missing money was stolen.

The case was shelved by police on August 28 because of insufficient evidence, but a spokesman said the case would be reopened if any new information came to light.

All 15 staff at the Abingdon Local Services Point, which includes the cash office, have been disciplined, but no-one has been sacked.

Steve Bishop, strategic director and chief finance officer for the Vale, said: “This is the first instance of a large amount of cash going missing and I hope it will be the last.

It is disappointing that the police cannot pursue a criminal investigation.

“Whether it was theft or not, the fact remains there was an opportunity for someone to steal the cash and this is unacceptable, which is why all the staff in the Abingdon Local Services Point have been disciplined.

“We have reviewed our cash operation and introduced further security measures to stop this from happening again.”

The council is making an insurance claim for the missing cash.