KENT County Council has narrowly avoided having its dirty laundry aired in public by agreeing a five-figure compromise with a former employee.

The council had been due to face former head of communications Jane Clarke at an employment tribunal later this month.

But the authority has backed down, offering Mrs Clarke a settlement believed to be in the region of £40,000.

This will be picked up by the taxpayer.

The council declined to comment on the settlement, saying only: "The parties reached an agreement following which the claim was withdrawn."

After joining the council in 2008, Mrs Clarke became a senior figure and was a casualty of the upheaval that followed managing director Katherine Kerswell's appointment in June 2010, which resulted in 14 directors and senior managers leaving at a huge cost to the taxpayer.

Mrs Clarke was unavailable for comment.