Bradford Council was facing the loss of another of its most senior officers today.

Kersten England, the authority's policy and performance director, has accepted a role with the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Her departure comes after chief executive Philip Robin-son announced his wish to retire early earlier this week.

Miss England, who has been with the authority since 1993 and has served as director for three years, submitted her transfer request before Mr Robinson declared his wish to retire. She leaves next month and has been seconded to work under the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

She will be responsible for ensuring Government policy is put in place at local authority level, and told the Telegraph & Argus: "If you can work in Bradford, you can work anywhere. It is never boring."

The two vacancies come at a tough time for Council bosses. Some City Hall politicians now fear a mass exodus of senior officers from the authority.

Among a number of issues facing the Council is a major inquiry into its Asset Management Project (AMP).

The Audit Commission has launched an inquiry into the authority after an allegation about the way a private partner was brought in to run most of the Council's buildings.

Director of asset management Linda Carmichael was suspended earlier this year to allow a probe to take place.

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: "I am concerned that officers are going from the authority because of a lack of political leadership. The AMP is a classic example. If we start to lose any more senior officers clearly the situation will be extremely troubling."

Liberal Democrat group leader Coun Jeanette Sunder-land said: "There is a serious danger that other officers will now leave because there are so many unresolved issues and no one to carry the can."

But Council leader Margaret Eaton denied there was concern over a loss of other senior officers. "Local Government used to be a job for life, now there is a lot more movement," she said. "We are known for 'breeding' very good officers."