A debate on the destiny of parish councils in Richmondshire came to an abrupt end when a councillor stormed out of a meeting.

Catterick Councillor Tony Pelton was opposing a recommendation that some parish authorities should lose one or more councillors.

To back his demands, he tabled a motion at a meeting of Richmondshire District Council, requesting that numbers on Catterick Village Parish Council should be maintained at 11.

However, the move failed to win any immediate support and Coun Pelton left the room.

"My feeling was that, if I wasn't going to be heard, then I had to make some sort of gesture. The first was leaving the room and the second was to shut the door on the way out - being symbolic of Richmondshire District Council closing the door on democracy, said Coun Pelton.

However, council leader John Blackie said: "The changes are on the instruction of the Boundary Commission and there has been full consultation on this issue with all the parish councils in the district.

" A total of 83 either support the proposals or have made no comment; just six are objecting."