A town clerk who was suspended a month ago after serving 20 years in the role has been “overwhelmed” by the support she has received from local people.

Sudbury town clerk Sue Brotherwood has been suspended on full pay due to a “procedural” matter since December 21, when she was asked to leave the Town Hall offices in Gaol Lane.

Sudbury mayor Adrian Osborne confirmed that the council was currently awaiting the results of an independent audit before any decisions could be made concerning Mrs Brotherwood’s future.

He said he hoped the matter could be resolved “as soon as possible” but declined to make any further comment at this stage.

Mrs Brotherwood, 61, who has sought legal advice over the suspension, said she was waiting for the council to get back to her when their investigation was complete.

She told the EADT: “I have received a letter from the council saying my suspension was in no way a ‘disciplinary action’ and did not mean that I had done anything wrong.

“But if that’s the case, you have to ask yourself why they thought it was okay to march me off the premises and suspend me after I’d given 20 years of loyal service to the town.”

Mrs Brotherwood had recently been elected to the new board of governors at Glemsford Primary School, which was at the centre of a multi-million pound computer fraud. However due to the adverse publicity surrounding the suspension, she has been forced to step down from the role that she was looking forward to taking on.

She continued: “The decision to suspend me has had far reaching consequences. Although I know I’ve done nothing wrong, the situation has been such a shock and has totally turned my life upside down.

“I’ve really struggled since I’ve been off – it has all been so upsetting. It would have been unbearable without all the people who have written to me offering their support and I appreciate that so much.”

Councillors were told about the suspension by email and have been advised not to discuss the matter.