THE ruling Tory group on Bromsgrove District Council has been accused of being "spiteful and vindictive."

The attack follows the ousting of two experienced Independent councillors from representing the authority on outside bodies.

There has been bitterness between the Tories and Independents since last year when five Conservatives resigned the Tory whip to become Independent. The move was sparked by a row over the future of the Victoria Ground.

Councillors Ann Doyle (Hillside) and Dr Elizabeth Lammie (Slideslow) were voted off their respective bodies in favour of Tory councillors at the authority's annual general meeting on May 4.

Cllr Doyle was replaced by Cllr Margaret Sherrey (Furlongs) on Bromsgrove Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB). While Cllr Dr Lammie, who served on the police community consultative group, was replaced by Cllr Roger Hollingworth (Alvechurch). Both new representatives were proposed by Tory leader Cllr Dennis Norton (St John's).

Cllr Doyle has been involved with the CAB for 17 years, initially as a volunteer debt advisor in Birmingham and later as the council's representative on CAB in Bromsgrove where she was chairman for five years.

Cllr Sherrey became a councillor six months ago.

Cllr Doyle, who last May was also unexpectedly booted off the shadow housing board, said: "I believe it is a spiteful, vindictive act by the controlling group to remove me from two committees dealing with subjects dear to my heart and about which I have more experience than anyone else on the council."

Dr Lammie, a member of the police committee for two years, has been a magistrate for 29 years and has wide knowledge of police activities and law and order issues.

She said she was "disappointed" and thought it "mean" that Cllr Norton had not had the courtesy to contact her to say he wanted her replaced by one of his own people.

She added there are enough vacancies on outside bodies to accommodate councillors of all parties.

Labour's Cllr Athol Deakin (Sidemoor) was nominated for seven outside bodies but was unsuccessful.

Cllr Norton declined to comment.

One of the longest serving councillors, another Independent, former Tory Cllr Jean Luck (Alvechurch), who was deselected by them at the last local elections, was nominated for the post of council vice chairman, but lost the vote to Conservative Jill Dyer.