A WAR of words broke out in a council chamber when opposing councillors accused each other of ignoring democracy.

Opposition members on Ferryhill Town Council heckled Labour councillors throughout Wednesday night's meeting.

They said they are being unfairly excluded from council business while the Labour members - who rule with 11 members to five independent and one Liberal Democrat - said they are using their position of power to serve the community.

The spat began with a debate about new standing orders, which guide councils on conduct and procedure.

The framework includes a rule requiring eight instead of six members' backing to revisit an issue within six months.

That means opposition members alone cannot include an old item on the agenda.

The changes were proposed by Labour members, who said they would ensure progress was made at meetings and officers' time not wasted minority groups repeatedly raising issues for "political gamesmanship".

But opposition members said the measures were designed to stifle debate. Independent councillor David Farry asked to discuss each new standing order individually, but Labour members outvoted his motion by ten votes to six, prompting outcry from the opposition.

Independent councillor Brian Gibson shouted: "That is an absolute disgrace. This is meant to be democracy - you don't know how to spell it."

The council's leader, Pat McCourt, replied: "The sitting council has a right to defer or dismiss items. That is democracy."

Councillor Kevin Storey, independent, said: "There is no point us turning up. Our views aren't heard. Democracy is being made a mockery of."

The argument was re-ignited when opposition councillors asked to be included on a working party to study the local development framework.

Coun McCourt proposed a group of five councillors, all Labour, but Coun Farry called for shared representation, with two Labour, two independent and one Liberal Democrat member. He said: "Can have common sense and have cross party representation to reflect the residents who voted for us?"

But Coun McCourt said: "I would love common sense in this chamber."

His motion was carried.

The two groups clashed again over opposition motions to discontinue the authority's existing newsletter for a cheaper format and to fly the Union Flag or St George's Cross at the town hall.

Both motions were lost