POLICE have been asked to launch a criminal investigation into fears a Monmouthshire council mole is leaking sensitive information to the Argus.

Council bosses have become increasingly concerned that several sensitive documents relating to major council projects have been leaked to the Press for publication.

The so-called 'pink papers' have involved high-profile issues such as the cash crisis surrounding the building of the Monnow Bridge in Monmouth, the debacle of the Chepstow Regeneration Project and the details surrounding Asda's proposed move to Abergavenny.

The council launched an internal investigation into the problem but yesterday it confirmed it had asked the police to get involved.

Acting council chief executive Colin Berg said: "We can confirm that the council has made a request to Gwent Police to undertake a criminal investigation but as the matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to make any further comment."

Back in April, Mr Berg vowed to dig out the mole who leaked a confidential report slamming a £1.2 million overspend in the building of Monmouth's new bridge.

The Argus exclusively revealed that an investigation by auditors and councillors had taken place into a £1.2m overspend on the Monnow Bridge project.

The investigation found there was no reason why the scheme to build a second bridge over the River Monnow - originally budgeted to cost £1.4m but which rose to a cost of £2.6m - could not have been put back into the 2004/5 financial year to help reduce costs. Director for the environment Jeff Martin and head of highways Dave Harris have been suspended while an internal investigation into the flagship project continues.

In Abergavenny, the Argus revealed plans by Asda to build an 18,000 sq ft food store with a separate George clothes stop.

The exclusive story has fuelled weeks of protests by local councillors and traders over the secrecy of the plans.