AN e-mail scandal at the Environment Agency has resulted in more than 40 employees facing disciplinary action over inappropriate messages.

The Environment Agency, the largest Government quango, is looking into 43 cases in several offices across the region, including two in Warrington, following the installation of a new software monitoring system that revealed a number of employees had been violating the terms of e-mail use.

A spokesman said: “The Environment Agency recently undertook a review of employee use of the email system.

“The review resulted in a number of issues being identified which are now being dealt with in line with our disciplinary procedures.

“Our duty of confidentiality means that we cannot go into the details of individual cases.

“However, we can confirm that the cases have concerned images, but not necessarily pornographic.

“At this stage we are looking into 43 cases across the whole of the north west and can confirm that no-one has been dismissed.

“The Environment Agency is a public body whose employees are expected to uphold high standards of business conduct and behaviour.

“We will always take the appropriate disciplinary action.”