THE leader of a council scrutiny panel investigating a local authority's handling of the care of brain tumour patient Ashya King has resigned, claiming his inquiry was being blocked.

Conservative councillor Alistair Thompson said that officers at Portsmouth City Council were not allowed to be involved in his review.

The authority obtained a legal order making it the boy's legal guardian after his parents took him from Southampton General Hospital to Spain.

The order was subsequently lifted.

Conservative council leader Donna Jones said that a separate review by the independent Portsmouth Local Safeguarding Children Board should be concluded and should take priority over the internal review.