A COUNCILLOR who swore and lunged at another member was restrained and led from the debating chamber as a council meeting descended into chaos.

Tempers flared as Richmondshire District Council discussed issues connected with allegations of bullying of officers by some members last night.

Coun David Morton was defending his wife and fellow councillor Wendy Morton, who was not at the meeting, against accusations from Coun Richard Dunn that she had not apologised to two senior officers following allegations that six members had bullied chief executive Harry Tabiner and monitoring officer Margaret Barry.

As Coun Dunn pressed the point, Coun Morton shouted: "Report me to Standards, you sod. You put me on anti-depressants, you sod, and I am going to f***ing go for you."

Coun Morton then lunged across the chamber and was restrained by Coun Jill McMullon, the council chairman, who escorted him from the room.

Coun Dunn immediately withdrew a motion requesting apologies from the six councillors, who were cleared of bullying by the Standards Board for England but found guilty by another independent report of breaching the code of conduct.

The meeting became heated after members voted by 18 to 12 to cut staffing budgets by £100,850 to set aside sufficient cash to cover a possible legal claim from Mrs Barry.

*Full story in tomorrow's Northern Echo.