COUNCILLORS have spoken of feeling unsafe in residents' homes and been shouted at in the street.

They revealed details of abuse as Blackburn with Darwen Council's standards committee approved an updated personal safety guide for elected members in the wake of MP David Amess’ murder.

It advises them to vary their routine and report any incidents of intimidation or threats.

The guide also tells councillors to follow their ‘gut feeling’ if they feel unsafe.

Committee chairman Cllr Tony Humphrys said if councillors felt worried about visiting the home of an elector in their ward they should make sure someone knows where and when they are going and when they are safely back out.

Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward's Cllr Zainab Rawat told of personal abuse in the street.

Cllr Humphrys said: "If you are going to a constituent's home and you feel unsafe make sure someone knows where you are going and when and let them know when you have left.

"In some cases go in twos.

"There is one house in my Blackburn South East ward where because of past experience we always go as two councillors and let the third know where and when we are going.

"Then we say when we are out."

Cllr Rawat said: "It's not just in constituents' homes.

"I have also had personal abuse when out in the ward.

"It is only a few people but it happens when I am walking around."

Roe Lee's Cllr Sylvia Liddle said it was important that councillors reported any incidents of abuse or harassment to the council's Democratic Services department in case the person responsible had also abused other members.

After the meeting Cllr Rawat said: "It wasn't racist or sexist abuse. It was just people getting passionate about something.

"It isn't pleasant. It's no what people say but how they say it.

"We are human beings too."

Cllr Humphrys said: "The abuse is often when constituents come to you for help and you cannot do anything. Then they can get very frustrated."

The new guide to ‘Personal Safety for Elected Members’ will now be referred for final approval to the borough's Full Council.

It says: “Our personal safety is something many of us take for granted, and it is only when a major incident occurs that we stop and think about our own vulnerability.

“The murder of MP Sir David Amess will have caused even the most confident amongst us to take a step back to reflect on the way that we manage any risks associated with our role."