COUNCILLORS have hit out at a decision to give a rare honour to two community figures, saying the timing is "completely wrong" in light of recent job cuts.

Liberal Democrat councillors Joe Kelley, Anne-Marie Curry, Fred Lawton and Alan McNab all abstained from voting on giving the Freedom of the Borough to John Williams MBE and Alasdair MacConachie OBE at a full Darlington Borough council meeting on Thursday.

The title is given sparingly - since 1900, Darlington has only admitted 18 Freemen, the last being the late Alderman Jim Skinner, who was a former leader of the council in 1982.

It is the highest distinction a local authority can bestow on an individual.

Anne-Marie Curry, of North Road Ward, said: "We (the Liberal Democrats) think the timing is completely wrong.

"We are in between making people redundant. We think they should have waited a year or so until the dust has settled.

"John Williams has been paid for his job. Other people who have been made redundant would say they have worked just as hard as he has.

"220 jobs have gone, and a further 155 more people are due to be made redundant. It's just not appropriate."

Ms Curry's views were not well received by the vast majority of councillors, who shouted "shame" at the Liberal Democrats. Both Labour and Conservative councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of giving the title to both Mr Williams and Mr MacConachie.

Nick Wallis, Labour ward councillor for Haughton West, said: "It should have been a celebratory occasion. I was personally disgusted with the way the Liberal Democrats played politics.

"I thought it was dreadfully sad. The Freedom of the Borough is a purely honorary title - there is no financial gain."

Bill Stenson, Conservative ward councillor for Mowden, said: "I was really amazed the Liberals didn't vote. It was quite a shock.

"If they have worked for it, they deserve the title."

The Local Government Act 1972 allows councils to admit as Honorary Freemen "persons of distinction and any persons who have rendered eminent services to the borough".

John Williams was Labour leader of the council from 1991 to this year and a ward member for more than 30 years.

Alasdair MacConachie, managing director of Sherwoods car dealership, in Darlington, is chairman of many organisations and groups, including Darlington College, St Teresa's Hospice and Darlington Local Strategic Partnership.

Bill Dixon, Labour leader of the council, said: "They both richly deserve the honorary title. And all the staff that have talked to me are in support of it."