Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has denied claims that ineligible staff are being given unadvertised council houses, following online rumours.

Anonymous Facebook posts earlier this week claimed that WHBC staff who either did not qualify for, or were not on the waiting list had been given a council house.

It was also alleged that these properties were not being advertised to those on the waiting list, but both accusations have been vehemently denied by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

In a statement to this newspaper, a spokesperson for the council said: "The anonymous posts on social media regarding council houses being given to council staff are not true.

"All applications for housing, including from council staff, are assessed thoroughly and fairly according to individual needs and the length of time an applicant has been on our housing register.

"All applicants are required to declare if they are a council employee at the beginning of the application process and we confirm that no preferential treatment is given council staff. 

"If anyone did have evidence of an application for housing being prioritised over others, they should report this at welhat.gov.uk/report/tenancy-fraud."