A FORMER mayor is being investigated by police and Trading Standards over theft allegations relating to his estate agents business.

Andy Hampton, who was Mayor of Wimborne between 2013 and 2015, founded Morgan Hampton estate agents in 2001.

The High Street office closed mysteriously just before Christmas amid claims of unpaid rents and deposits to landlords.

A number of notes had been left on the front door of the office from clients asking Mr Hampton to get in touch - and the office is now for let.

At the time Mr Hampton told the Echo that while the Wimborne office had closed Morgan Hampton was in the process of merging with another letting agent.

He said that the other letting agents "had an office and wanted to operate the business from there" and that they were writing to all clients to inform them of the merger.

But he did not give details about which letting agent he had merged with or where the new business would operate from.

Now Dorset County Council's Trading Standards team have confirmed they are officially investigating the estate agents.

Ivan Hancock, Trading Standards service manager for Dorset County Council, said: “We are in contact with Dorset Police on the subject of allegations concerning Morgan Hampton estate agents in Wimborne.

"The main allegations involve the theft of customers’ deposits."

Mr Hancock has also encouraged any other people affected by this incident to report theft allegations to police.

He added: "With a breach of contract or with other problems that consumers have experienced or are worried about, involving services or goods sold by this or other businesses, they can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.

"This is the first point of contact for consumer advice or to report a matter to Trading Standards.”

Mr Hampton has not responded to any of the Echo's requests for comment on the allegations.

During his time as Wimborne mayor Mr Hampton was involved in a number of community events - including the Remembrance Parade, Christmas light switch-on and shop openings in the town.

In 2014 he opened the new X-ray suit at Victoria Hospital in the town and in 2013 he opened a skate ramp in Redcotts Recreation Ground in memory of a teenager who was killed while walking home from a part three years earlier.

Mr Hampton also served as a town councillor for nine years from 2004 and was deputy town mayor for a year before he was elected mayor in 2013.

In 2010 he raised £800 for volunteer organisations Wimborne in Bloom and Dreamboats by running the London Marathon.

A bio on the Morgan Hampton website about the estate agents describes Mr Hampton as someone who "lives for the community and the town". "Having been involved in countless community projects to help sustain and build upon the unique character of the town there is nothing that he doesn't know about Wimborne," it reads.