An ex-mayor is quitting the Labour Party, in protest at "smear'' tactics.

A Middlesbrough Labour councillor, Pat Walker, last year cited "personal reasons'' for withdrawing her name from the Labour Party selection panel considering candidates for the council elections this May.

The suggestion had been made to her to stand down ahead of a court appearance over an alleged confrontation with resident Joan McTighue in Thorntree Cemetery, Middlesbrough, last year.

Both women have been charged under Section Four of the Public Order Act 1986. A pre-trial review into the case will be held before Teesside Magistrates on April 1.

Coun Mrs Walker - wife of ex Middlesbrough Council Labour leader, Ken - announced yesterday she is resigning her position as Middlesbrough Labour group secretary and reiterated her decision to withdraw from the Labour Party.

In her letter of resignation, released to the media yesterday, the Grove Hill ward councillor hints that she may stand as an independent councillor in the forthcoming elections.

Referring to Ray Mallon's landslide election as the town's first, directly, apolitical mayor, Mrs Walker says: "Perhaps his non-alignment with any political party is the way forward. To be independent after all gives a councillor total freedom to reflect the true concerns of the people.''

She claims Labour councillors and party members worked for Ray Mallon and against the election of Coun Sylvia Connolly, Labour's official candidate in the mayoral race last year.

Mrs Walker says in her letter: "I have over the last year watched helplessly the obscenity of fellow Labour councillors covertly using other willing hands to try and smear my year in public office as the last civic mayor of Middlesbrough.

"In addition, the malicious unfounded public attacks on my husband Ken, our family and other councillors in the Labour group who committed no wrong other that support my husband.''

Labour group leader Coun Paul Thompson said: "I was disappointed she has resigned as group secretary and from the Labour Party; but I have to question why she has done this at this particular time when she had a year to do something about it.''

Coun Ken Walker said: "Whilst disagreeing with her decision, I fully understand and respect the reasons for her resignation.''