A REDDITCH county councillor and devout Christian has hit out at a proposal to scrap prayers at the beginning of county council meetings.

Four options are on the cards, including stopping prayers altogether, having different faiths and denominations leading the prayers and having prayers as a separate entity before the meetings.

But angry councillor Tom Wareing said: "This is political correctness gone barmy. Since 1888 prayers have been an integral part of the county council meetings. I can see no valid reason whatsoever for discontinuing the prayers."

He said if a member of ethnic minority was appointed to chair the county council they could recommend whether another religious leader should open the meetings.

Labour's Dan Wickstead has sent a letter to all 57 fellow councillors asking for their opinions on the future of prayers as part of his role as an equality champion.