Winchester City Council is under increasing pressure to reveal more about its dealings with a bankrupt charity.

The Winchester Alliance for Mental Health went bust last month, owing the council £350,000.

At Wednesday's full council meeting, Labour group leader, Patrick Davies, called on the ruling Lib-Dems to make more information public. "Do we not have a duty to the people we represent to say exactly what has gone on?" he asked.

He added that if the authority had nothing to hide, then it should come clean over the truth.

Council leader, Sheila Campbell, said the paperwork Mr Davies was looking for could not be released.

She added that such a move would require the permission of the council and the charity.

Conservative member, George Hollingbery, then suggested that Mrs Campbell should seek the necessary approval to make the documents public.

The council has already referred the matter to its external auditor, who is studying the books.

Mrs Campbell said before the meeting that once the auditor had finished, the findings would be made public.

At the meeting itself, council director of finance, Sheila Boden responded to Mr Hollingbery's suggestion on behalf of Mrs Campbell. She said she would speak to the auditor and ask if some papers could be released beforehand.

Last week, council member for finance, Kelsie Learney, stated that if some or all of the £350,000 owed could not be repaid, then taxpayers would foot the bill.

Conservative member, Freddie Allgood, who chairs the principal scrutiny committee, said it was unlikely that all the money could be recovered.

The Winchester Alliance for Mental Health used to run the city's Bird in Hand activity centre in Parchment Street. The building closed last month when the charity's financial problems became public.