THE former leader of Hyndburn Council Peter Britcliffe was asked to leave the first full council meeting of the civic year.

The Conservative group leader, who lost the council leadership during the elections in May, was told to leave by Mayor Coun Colette McCormack following a heated exchange.

The meeting began with Coun McCormack warning councillors she would not tolerate any interruptions.

The former leader was asked to leave after Hyndburn MP Graham Jones addressed councillors and councillors were invited to ask questions.

However the mayor ordered Coun Britcliffe from the chamber for interrupting Coun Clare Pritchard.

After the meeting Coun Britcliffe said: “I shouldn’t have interrupted, or let things being said get to me like that.

"There was a suggestion made that I had never liked the previous MP Greg Pope but we had always worked well together.”