A SPAT between the leaders of Darlington's Labour and Conservative groups led to order being called at a full council meeting.

Councillor Tony Richmond, leader of the town's Tory group, was rebuked by deputy mayor Councillor Stella Robson at the meeting on Thursday after he accused Labour council leader John Williams of lying over the Conservatives' attitude to town centre pedestrianisation plans.

Councillor Williams, responding to a comment made by Conservative councillor Roderick Burtt that Darlington was a "lousy" shopping centre, said the Tories had opposed the pedestrianisation scheme.

"I just despair of the Conservatives on the town centre," he said.

"Again, we have the Conservatives living up to their name - being conservative. We want to take Darlington town centre forward.

"You are just bankrupt of ideas as far as the town centre is concerned."

Later in the meeting, Coun Richmond raised the pedestrianisation plan again, saying the Conservative group had supported it from the start.

"What I don't agree with is Councillor Williams lying in this chamber," he said, before Coun Robson told him to stop speaking.

Later, he raised the issue a second time, saying Coun Williams had told an "out and out lie".

Coun Robson told him to stop again, adding: "Your remarks are out of order and do you no favour at all."

When the row rumbled on between other councillors, she stopped it again. "I'm afraid people are behaving badly," she said.