DISILLUSIONED councillors, who are threatening to take Yarm and Ingleby Barwick into a breakaway authority based on the old North Riding of Yorkshire, were attacked by a Stockton MP this week.

Frank Cook, Labour MP for Stockton North, also suggested the two towns should be governed by a city-style authority, with Middlesbrough and Redcar. He claimed it would be better for the whole of Cleveland to receive city status, rather than split up.

Last week, 11 Labour councillors from Thornaby wrote a strongly-worded letter to Coun Bob Gibson, leader of Stockton Council. They accused him of having a "dismissive, derisory" attitude towards Thornaby and suggested the creation of a new borough, the Communities of Ingleby, Thornaby and Yarm.

But Mr Cook responded this week by saying: "These breakaway plans are totally impractical, totally undeliverable and totally at odds with what our area really needs.

"Whatever differences some councillors and others may have, they should not pretend to the public that there is any chance of providing services through a smaller authority than the one we presently have.

"Do those people who are promoting this idea really think such an authority could possibly have the resources to provide high-quality services and attract new jobs and investment?

"The reality is that we need to raise our sights, rather than follow the route to narrow parochialism. Teesside is a closely-knit urban conurbation. The sooner we recognise our strength lies in unity, rather than division, the better.

He then added: "The local authority debate should work towards achieving genuine city status for the entire conurbation, like neighbouring Newcastle and Leeds."

Last week's protest letter said Stockton Council's leadership was "high-handed, arrogant, unwilling to listen, sneering, belligerent and bullying, It was apparently signed by several top councillors, including Stockton South cabinet member Coun Steve Walmsley and Coun Ivor Mogan, the Mayor of Thornaby.

The rebellion surprised many councillors in the Yarm area.

Egglescliffe Parish Council vice-chairman Coun Sue Ireland said her community had much in common with Yarm, but it was not included in the breakaway blueprint.

The row greatly alarmed Dari Taylor, Labour MP for Stockton South, which includes Yarm and Ingleby Barwick. She called on the Labour Party's deputy general secretary to instill discipline.

Consequently, Coun Walmsley was unable to comment, apart from saying the matter was being handled by the party.

Mrs Taylor also called for a clear-the-air meeting this month