COUNCIL bosses launched an investigation after a councillor used an offensive remark on a social networking page.

Borough deputy leader Clare Pritchard said there were ‘some complete tossers in Ossy’ in a Facebook post earlier this month. She used the phrase in relation to a dispute with an un-named individual in Roe Greave Road.

Christopher Brindle, a resident of Roe Greave Road, contacted his Tory councillor Judith Addison and complained to the authority’s monitoring officer Jane Ellis. She cleared the Labour politician of misconduct in her role as a councillor.

Mr Brindle believes Coun Pritchard’s comments relate to an exchange on the doorstep with him while she was canvassing, but she denies this. Coun Addison and Hyndburn Council Tory group leader Peter Britcliffe said, despite Ms Ellis’s decision, the post was inappropriate and amounted to an insult to the people of Oswaldtwistle.

In her post Coun Pritchard said: “There really are some complete TOSSERS in Ossy, thinking I was offended by your pathetic comments last year on the doorstep in Roegreave Road.”

Mr Brindle said: “I am deeply offended by the comments made. I think, without a shadow of doubt, she should apologise to the people of Oswaldtwistle.”

Coun Britcliffe said: “This was an inappropriate comment for a senior councillor to put on Facebook. Although the post may refer to a row with an individual, by using the phase ‘some complete tossers’ she is insulting the wider population of Oswaldtwistle. She should apologise.”

Coun Addison, who was due to become Mayor of Hyndburn last night, said: “Some residents of Oswaldtwistle would consider this an insult to the town.

“She should be more careful in future.”

Coun Pritchard, recently elected to Lancashire County Council, ousting her furious father and Independent politician Malcolm, said: “I do not know Mr Brindle.

“This was a comment made on my locked and private Facebook account to a friend. The monitoring officer has cleared me in full of any wrongdoing. It was not an insult to the people of Oswaldtwistle.

“I am entitled to private life.”

A council spokesman said: “The council is satisfied that any comments Coun Pritchard made were on her personal, private Facebook page. This is not covered by the code of conduct which only applies to councillors when acting in their official capacity.

“This is therefore not a matter the council has any remit to investigate and the complainant has confirmed that he accepts this decision.”