Carnival chief's fury over allegations

The woman at the centre of a row over the Notting Hill Carnival today told of her fury over being suspended after 13 years.

Barrister Clare Holder, 45, was visited by solicitors representing the Carnival Trust who asked for the return of her office keys.

Last month she hired security guards to occupy the trust's Ladbroke Grove headquarters after trustees tried to change the locks. But today she said she had agreed to step down from the £42,000-ayear chief executive post, although she remains on full pay.

"If you want to get rid of an employee, you don't just lock the door," she said. "No one has been able to articulate why this has happened."

Earlier this year it was revealed that her brother had been the carnival's route manager for three years, receiving a total of £19,100, and her sister had been paid £8,100 over three years to organise the catering. An investigation by PriceWaterhouse-Coopers found the appointments had either been approved by the board or were on similar terms to those of other temporary employees.

"Fake allegations were made against me and shown to be false by the most reputable auditors in the country, so it smacks of collusion," she said today.

There was no comment from the trustees on Ms Holder's suspension.