Merton's largest housing association is carrying out further investigations into alleged corruption and mismanagement within its repairs and maintenance service.

Circle Housing Merton Priory (CHMP) commissioned an independent audit after whistleblowers who had left the company began to approach the Wimbledon Guardian in September saying contractors Keepmoat Property Services were repeatedly overcharging for repairs as part of a £220m contract.

The Wimbledon Guardian had begun its own investigation into the housing association prompted by more than 100 complaints from residents about repairs.

Results of the audit were shared with senior executives at Circle Housing in November, but they have not been made public this week as promised because the housing association said it needed to carry out further investigations.

Earlier this year senior executive Deborah Upton said the results would be made public after a board meeting on Wednesday, March 18.

But in a statement yesterday, she said: "Last week we discussed the findings of our investigation so far with our board following a full review by independent experts of the investigations to date.

"We are now working together with our contractor and our independent experts who have recommended that we do more work on this, so that we can bring the investigation to a robust conclusion."

A spokeswoman said there will be an update in "a few weeks" after the housing association had spoken to its stakeholders.

MPs in Merton have criticised the housing association for further delays in publishing the outcome of the investigation.

Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond said: "I have long worked with local residents to try and improve Circle Housing’s repairs locally, which have let many of my constituents down.

"It is totally unacceptable that CHMP have not published the results of the fraud investigation. The public have a right to know- they should publish immediately."

Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh said: "I think they should publish them [the results] and if they can't they should explain why they can't.

She added: "I think it [the repairs service] has got better than it was but there are still people who are experiencing long-term problems."

Keepmoat Property Services was unavailable for comment. 

Who are Circle Housing?

Circle Housing is a 77,000-home association which owns more than 9,000 homes in Merton.

The Merton homes have been managed by subsidiary Circle Housing Merton Priory since Merton Council transferred its housing stock in 2010.

In January the Government's housing watchdog placed Circle's governance rating under review following serious concerns about repairs and maintenance at two of its London subsidiaries, in Islington and Tower Hamlets.

Almost 90 per cent of Circle's £362m turnover in 2014 came from social housing rents.

Circle is a not-for-profit housing association governed by charitable rules.

It employs more than 2,200 people and provides homes and services to about 300,000 people across the UK.