THE directors of Bolton's Neighbourhood Economic Development Association were given a vote of no-confidence at a crunch secret meeting last night.

Mystery today surrounded the future of the organisation after members of the body, which is based at Deane Enterprise Centre, voted against the directors they had previously elected.

The decision, made behind closed doors, angered chairman Cllr Pauline Spencer, who walked out of the meeting to discuss the implications of the vote with her fellow unelected corporate directors.

She slammed the no-confidence decision, claiming it left the organisation in a vulnerable position.

Speaking on the issue this morning she said: "The vote was just silly. The directors have worked their socks off for NEDA and I'm not sure where the body goes from here."

Proposals to remove council funding and turn the organisation into a trust with charitable status have been put forward.

Some people see such a move as being a blow to NEDA which has helped many new businesses in Bolton get off the ground by providing support and grants. Others, however, view it as being a lifeline, enabling the group to assist a greater number of firms.