Two more Oxford City Council employees have been suspended for a disciplinary matter.

An investigation into events officers Anna Dolan and Mike Williams has now been launched but the exact reasons for the city council's actions are not known.

Miss Dolan and Mr Williams have been involved in organising the council's programme of summer events, including Fun in the Parks, Jazz in the Park and the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony.

It comes after leisure and parks business manager Tony Stephens was suspended on full pay on June 10, also for a disciplinary matter.

It is believed Mr Stephens has since handed in his notice and is taking up a new post in Harrogate on August 1.

Louisa Dean, city council spokesman, said: "We can confirm that three members of our staff have been suspended to allow an investigation into a potential disciplinary matter.

"Due to its sensitive nature we cannot make any further comment until the end of this investigation."

Police are not investigating the matter at this time.

Alan Armitage, Liberal Democrat city councillor, said he was appalled at the way the leisure service was being managed.

He said: "I have been very unhappy with a lot of things that have been going on in the leisure and parks department recently and have made my thoughts very public."

He said a new leisure strategy under consultation is not worth the paper it is written on.

He added: "The vision statement of the city council of the Labour administration says 'we will provide more and better affordable leisure facilities'. But it doesn't address these issues at all."

Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel said: "I believe these people have been suspended because of financial issues.

"I was shocked at first, but then I thought at least we have a system for finding out about such things and dealing with them."

Ms Dean said the investigation into Mr Stephens was ongoing, adding: "We don't yet know when it will be concluded."

Mr Stephens lives in London and is believed to earn about £37,000.

His appointment in August 2003 followed the merger of the parks and leisure units and caused controversy because he was appointed instead of former boss Andy Parsons, who was made redundant after 25 years of service.

Since last summer, members of the city's finance scrutiny committee have repeatedly summoned Mr Stephens to discuss the leisure and parks budget but he has failed to attend meetings.

Alex Hollingsworth, leader of the council, said he hoped the investigation would be concluded very quickly.