AN EXPLOSIVE dossier of evidence alleging council officials bribed Earls Court tenants with the offer of new homes more quickly in exchange for backing bulldozing their estates has been handed to police.

A campaigner handed 40 pages of documents to Fulham Police Station last week claiming officials may be guilty of Misconduct in a Public Office and breaching the Housing Act in the battle to gain backing for plans to knock down 761 homes on the West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates as part of the development to transform the area into four 'urban villages'.

The stunning development came as the council sealed the fate of the estates by giving planning permission to the scheme.

The dossier, seen by the Chronicle, outlines claims the council created a 'VIP list' of residents who would get homes in a replacement complex in Seagrave Road more quickly if they signed forms pledging their support.

One resident claims she was told people who did not sign forms outlining their support would 'end up in a hotel and lose their flats completely'.

"The official told me I should fill in the form as soon as possible because there would not be enough places for everyone in Seagrave Road," he said. "He was very authoritative and official. He made me feel as if it was really going to happen."

Another resident alleged: "The council officers told me they could promise me the house I wanted in Seagrave Road. They told me it would be a nice, modern place. They told me that they could guarantee me a garden, if only I agreed with the plan and said I wanted to move."

The incidents are said to have taken place over a 10-month period from May 2011.

The council admitted it has a list of people who have expressed an interest in moving to Seagrave Road but denied it will give them priority.

But Labours opposition leader Stephen Cowan says the authority has stonewalled his questions on the controversial allegations since the turn of the year and called for a probe. He said: "The council has consistently refused to answer the most rudimentary questions over the last nine months. It must now carry out a full independent investigation."

A spokesman for the council refused to directly address the allegations and would only say in a statement: "The council is immensely proud residents living on the two estates have been offered the best deal in any regeneration scheme in London. In fact, all residents are on the VIP list.

"We have adopted a 'local lettings plan' that sets out exactly how new housing will be allocated for eligible residents."

All residents have been offered new homes, white goods and more than s4,000 in compensation, added the spokesman.