THURROCK Council has confirmed it has now started legal action to try and recover its losses following its failed solar power investment strategy.

The cash-strapped council, which was plunged into virtual bankruptcy when the scale of its losses became known has lodged papers with the High Court which have instituted action against flamboyant entrepreneur Liam Kavanagh.

He is was the director of several companies and acted as an advisor to council chiefs, as well as securing hundreds of millions of pounds of investment into his own companies.

A statement from the council says: "The Council can confirm that it has issued proceedings in the High Court against Liam Kavanagh. 

"We are unable to say more at this stage but will provide further information when we are able to do so."

Thurrock Nub News originally broke the story about the level of council borrowing and the risks it was taking, a theme taken up by other media which included a BBC Panorama investigation.

It is not known how long the proceedings will take, they are likely to run for several years, nor has it been disclosed how they will be funded. It is likely to be a significant cost running into six figures.

Thurrock councillors recently supported a call by residents for a full independent inquiry into the collapse of the council. A decision on that is awaited from government minister Michael Gove but it could be that the legal action and inquiry could cover the same ground and may impact against each other.