A libel action between the chairman and former clerk of New Alresford Town Council went before the High Court in London this week.

Robin Atkins (59) is suing William Stevens for suggesting his behaviour triggered the resignation of his predecessor as town clerk, Jill Shackleton.

Mr Atkins, an accountant who joined the council in 1999, told the jury the allegation was false. "There's nobody in Alresford who is scared of me," added Mr Atkins, of Lindley Gardens.

The claim was made in a letter from Mr Stevens, on July 17th, 2002, to Simon Cook, who chaired the council at the time.

Mr Stevens does not deny writing the letter, but says Mr Cook asked him to, making it protected by privilege.

Mr Cook, a former Royal Marine and chief leisure officer at Richmond-on-Thames council in London, denied making the request. "I can see absolutely no reason why I would want Mr Stevens to do investigative work," he said.

William Barrett, for Mr Stevens, told the court that Mr Cook was also sued for libel by Mr Atkins, in 2002.

He suggested that Mr Cook was gathering evidence for his own case, which Mr Cook denied. The jury heard that he settled his case with Mr Atkins out of court, meeting his costs of £11,000.

Mr Stevens, of Shedfield, near Wickham, told the court that Mr Cook instructed him in July, 2002, to uncover why Mrs Shackleton quit five months earlier. "It was a throwaway line: 'The next time Jill's in, can you find out why she left'?"

Fran White, assistant clerk to Mr Stevens, also said that Mr Cook made the request. "I thought it was a bit of an odd thing to ask several months after Jill had gone, but as for an ulterior motive, I couldn't see that there was one," she said.

Mr Stevens, former chief administration officer at Portsmouth City Council, said that he spoke to Mrs Shackleton. The jury heard that after this conversation, Mr Stevens wrote the letter with the allegation against Mr Atkins.

Mr Stevens added that Mr Cook should have recognised the letter was sensitive.

"He knew it was confidential. It went to his house, through his door, by me."

The court heard that Mr Atkins came across the letter because Mr Cook submitted it for his own libel case.

Mrs Shackleton, who was the town clerk for over 20 years, told the court why she quit. "Robin Atkins made it impossible for the council to perform productively-and for me to do my job-and so I left."

She added that a power struggle between Mr Atkins and Mr Cook had virtually brought the council's business to a halt.

Mrs Shackleton denied sharing her views with Mr Stevens in July, 2002. "Lots of people had lots of conversations with me about why I resigned, but I don't want to play that game, and I still don't."

Lesley Revelle, who was Mrs Shackleton's assistant clerk, and now job-shares with her at Alton Library, said Mr Stevens was aware of his predecessor's feelings.

She said that Mrs Shackleton told Mr Stevens in February, 2002, that she was leaving because of Mr Atkins's conduct.

The case is expected to finish early next week.