MEMBERS of the public have condemned the way Cllr Tony Phillips was sacked as leader during last week's coup.

Monitoring officer Simon Best has received a number of letters from the public expressing disappointment at the way Cllr Phillips was shown the door.

In a separate development Mr Best has asked for legal advice on how to deal with Conservative councillors who staged a walkout during a vote on the council's constitution.

Cllr Graham Payne ordered his 18 colleagues to walk out when the constitution was changed, effectively to allow the coup.

It is possible the councillors could be reported to the Standards Board for England for their behaviour. Cllr Terry Chivers called the walkout "unwise" and said some people sitting in the public gallery were considering reporting up to three councillors to the Standards Board for comments made during the meeting.