A councillor went to the press watchdog after a weekly newspaper wrongly reported she had been excluded from council offices.

Linda Derrick complained about the Bucks Free Press after it covered allegations of bullying against her.

The Free Press reported Dr Derrick had been “excluded” from Hughenden Parish Council’s headquarters – except when attending council meetings – until she underwent formal training and offered an apology.

However, Dr Derrick went to the Independent Press Standards Organisation, saying she had not been banned from the Parish offices or forced to apologise.

Complaining under Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, she said Buckinghamshire County Council had only recommended the sanctions and did not have the power to implement them.

Denying a breach of Code, the Free Press acknowledged that it had erroneously stated that the complainant had been banned from attending Hughenden Parish Council, but did not accept that this was a “significant inaccuracy”.

During IPSO’s investigation, the High Wycombe-based weekly offered to print a correction, resolving the matter to Dr Derrick’s satisfaction.

IPSO therefore discontinued its investigation, and the full resolution statement can be read here.