Tower Hamlets council criticised over probe delays

Tower Hamlets council has been criticised by the government for delaying an investigation into allegations of fraud and mismanagement.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said he had been forced to extend the deadline for a report by inspectors because of "considerable" delays.

The investigation followed a BBC Panorama's investigation into the east London borough.

In a statement, Tower Hamlets Council said: "It is in the interests of all concerned for the report to conclude quickly but also to provide meaningful and credible findings."

BBC London's Political Correspondent Karl Mercer's report features the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Eric Pickles, and former Labour mayoral candidate in Tower Hamlets, John Biggs.