A SENIOR Fife Labour councillor has been arrested over allegations of child sex offences.

David Graham, 41, who is also on the board of NHS Fife and represents the Kingdom at Cosla, was charged in relation to "grooming offences" and will appear in court next month.

Labour councillor for the Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss villages ward for the past 11 years, he is Fife Council's health and social care and older people's champion but has now stepped down while a criminal investigation continues.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to grooming offences following an investigation in Fife.

“He has been released on an undertaking to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court at a later date.

“Further enquiries are ongoing.”

Fife Council's head of legal and democratic services, Lindsay Thomson, said: "Cllr Graham was charged with an offence and has been suspended by the Labour party.

"He has stepped down from his council appointments pending the outcome of the investigation.

"No further comment can be made by the council during a live police investigation."

Cllr Graham, who owns a cafe in Methil and a social media and marketing company, was first elected to the council in 2012 and has been re-elected twice, in 2017 and 2022.