A town hall bust-up has led to rebel Labour councillors leaving the party and standing as independents in the May elections.

Up to eight members could leave Stockton Borough and Thornaby Town Councils after a furious war of words with the local Labour Party hierarchy over the status of neighbouring town Thornaby.

The crisis has forced two Teesside MPs to back the town's ruling members over the so-called rebels.

The mass walk-out, led by Stockton Councillors Steve Walmsley and Eileen Craggs, means up to eight independent candidates will stand on a platform of championing Thornaby.

Those about to leave the party were all part of the band of 11 who signed an infamous letter branding Stockton's Labour leaders unaccountable and arrogant.

Since that letter was leaked to the press last August, both councillors Walmsley and Craggs have been deselected.

Councillor Walmsley said: "When the initial letter went out the Labour Party just crushed the people involved rather than investigating the issues within it.

"They have embarked on the most despicable dirty tricks campaign to rid themselves of us with nerve enough to expose their arrogant contempt.

"We find it no hardship in forfeiting our membership of a party which, in its truest form, we have cherished.

"We will pursue our intention of selecting eight Thornaby Independents. We believe that if a stand is not made now then Thornaby-on-Tees will quite simply cease to exist."

The rebel members list the closure of Tedder School, the backing of the Bowesfield Farm development and the naming of Stockton Riverside College as evidence of Thornaby residents' views being ignored.

But Stockton council leader Bob Gibson says he has no regrets: "They are throwing their dummies out of the nursery and setting themselves up as independents. We will fight them there with good solid candidates."

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor said she was 'very disappointed', but asked the want-away councillors to think again.

Neighbouring MP Frank Cook, member for Stockton North, went one step further. He said: "If this was happening on board one of Her Majesty's ships it would be called a mutiny."

Mick Hills, regional organiser for the Labour Party in the North-East, said only Councillor Walmsley has resigned as yet.