A deeply distraught Mosta mayor, Paul Chetcuti Caruana, called in the police on Friday after between Lm8,000 and Lm10,000 in cash went missing.

It seems that the cash, derived mostly from fines or licences, all paid recently, were in separate envelopes, some of which were found empty and others with very few notes in them.

Reports also said the key to the safe was not found, either.

The council’s cash was last audited in March in preparation for the local council elections that saw the council swing from a PN majority to a Labour one.