Fourteen council workers have been suspended amid claims that they sent antisemitic emails.

Lancashire County Council took action against the staff on Thursday of last week. An investigation and disciplinary hearings were due to begin on Tuesday. The 14, said to be mostly Muslim, face the sack if found guilty of misconduct.

County councillor Vali Patel said he had not seen the emails but had been told they did not contain specifically antisemitic material and were based on information relating to pro-Palestinian groups. Confirming the suspensions, council chief executive Ged Fitzgerald said: “We believe all our staff have a duty to use email in a responsible manner. Our priority is to ascertain the facts around the allegations and ensure the right action is taken.”