ALRESFORD town chiefs are tightening procedures after weaknesses in accounting for cash from fruit machines was exposed.

The annual town meeting heard that no formal agreement had been agreed between the fruit machine operator and the Alresford Recreation Centre.

In a written report, Cllr Roy Gentry said: “Unfortunately no proper record seems to have been maintained by either Brian Savage (of DH Leisure) or the bar managers and the coin was merely tipped into the till.”

The meeting heard that procedures have since been tightened with a member of the town council being there when the machines are emptied.

A written agreement between the ARC and Mr Savage was being drawn up.

But former town councillor Robin Atkins, a chartered accountant, told the meeting: “You have got a complete fraud here. I will stake my reputation on that. I don’t know where the money is; probably in someone’s pocket.”