Council leaders have been accused of breaching pre-election rules after endorsing a £20 million initiative to improve Darlington communities.

Rival councillors claim the decision by Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet to consider the local authority’s role in the Pride In Place programme could influence the result of the key by-election in the Red Hall and Lingfield ward.

Red Hall has been chosen as one of the five “left behind” communities in the borough, which will receive a share of the funding.

Darlington Borough Council disputed the alleged breach of rules and said the report would have been discussed irrespective of the by-election.

But Conservative councillors have now signalled their intention to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.

“We feel there is a clear breach of

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