A tribunal investigating a GP accused of taking £100,000 from an NHS-funded out-of-hours service has stalled after one of the panel members was forced to step down.

Dr Ravi Sondhi allegedly abused his position as financial director of Croydoc which was set up in 1995 to treat almost 1m patients in Croydon, Sutton, Kingston and Merton.

Mary O'Rourke, defending the 52-year-old applied for Dr Keith Dunnett to be withdrawn from the process, after he allegedly failed to disclose he was a director of a Lincolnshire based out-of-hours and other limited companies.

She also raised concerns about his questioning of three witnesses.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel concluded a 'fair-minded informed observer' could conclude Dr Dunnett was biased and rule he should be replaced.

A substitute panel member will now be appointed, but it is unlikely the tribunal in Manchester will finish before its deadline of July 26 and may have to be heard again in full at a later date.

Dr Sondhi denies misconduct charges including allegations he ignored hundreds of phone calls from his Norfolk mansion when on duty.

He could be struck off the medical register or suspended if his fitness to practice is found to be impaired by misconduct.