It's been claimed in Tynwald that reports and management accounts handed over to Braddan Commissioners by dismissed Clerk Charles Lewin did not represent the true financial position of the local authority.

In a statement to the Court, Local Government Minister John Shimmin said the commissioners were told they were in a surplus or breakeven position at the end of the last financial year.

However, according to Mr Shimmin, there was actually a deficit of quarter of a million pounds.

Mr Shimmin (pictured) referred to the deficit while explaining steps being taken to recover over-payments, totalling ?28,000 which were made to five employees of the local authority as pension contributions.