A COUNCIL whose mayor is at the centre of a row over Facebook posts he made about gay people and Islam has reassured residents it is "committed to equality and inclusivity".

Ferryhill Town Council has issued a statement following calls for recently-elected mayor, Councillor Richard Smith, to resign following posts he shared including an anti-gay pride activist's video as well as a video headlined "Group of Muslims attack a Jewish family and their little children".

On behalf of members, town council clerk, Derek Snowball, said: "Following the recent media coverage in connection with comments made by Mr R. Smith (Ferryhill Town Councillor) in his personal capacity on social media Ferryhill Town Council wish to provide the following statement."

The statement read: “Ferryhill Town Council values the diversity of the community we serve. This Council, as a whole, is committed to equality and inclusivity. We would like to reaffirm our commitment to representing and supporting the whole community, including those with protected characteristics”.

Cllr Smith, who is pastor at the Immanuel Christian Fellowship, based in Ferryhill, has since deleted the posts said they were made on his personal page and "not connected in any way to my role as the mayor of Ferryhill or as a councillor".