A BAN on a grandfather attending council meetings has been lifted.

Burly private guards hired to keep asthmatic 52-year-old Chris Snowdon out of Middlesbrough town hall - because he refuses to stand up when the mayor arrives-have been withdrawn.

Mr Snowdon challenged Middlesbrough chief executive John Foster to have the ban lifted or have its legality tested in court.

Council leader Ken Walker has now written to him informing him " there would be no further hindrance'' to him entering the town hall or attending any meetings open to the public.

Coun Walker says in his letter: "Putting it bluntly, the ball is now in your court.

"You have made clear that you see yourself as an unwilling cause celebre. That situation can be simply resolved if you will accept that the sensible - and responsible - way forward is for you to accept the compromise set out in my letter of March 9.

"If you wish, of course, you can still continue to undermine the long-established, protocols at council meetings, including the practice of showing proper respect to the mayor as the first citizen of the town.''

The next mayor of Middlesbrough, to be sworn in next month, is Ken Walker's wife, Pat.