NEIL CULLEY'S time as chairman of the Upton Tourism and Trade Association was ended on Monday at the group's annual general meeting.

Two members of the association, David Belcher, of Severn Embroidery, and Carl Spate, of the Blue Bell Inn, voiced their disapproval of the process before the leadership vote was taken.

They claimed they had not been given enough information to be able to decide between the two candidates for chairmananship of the group. Mr Belcher then walked out.

The surprise vote came at the end of a year which saw the membership rules and internal structure of the association revised.

Mr Culley, whose agenda for the forthcoming year had included the possibility of a European twinning link, said: "I will continue to do my very best for Upton and to support Bill in his role as chairman."

Bill Dovey, who up until the AGM had been vice-chairman, was voted in as chairman by a margin of 20 to 14, with Mr Culley as his new deputy.

He said: "I'm very pleased with the appointment. I've never been chairman of the association before but I do have experience of similar posts in other organisations."

Ruth Probert is the new secretary, while John Eastwood was re-elected treasurer and Sue Walker as head of the water festival committee.

The association says its finances are in a healthier state than they have ever been with more than £5,000 being carried forward to next year. Four car boot sales raised a total of £2,388.50 and an unprecedented £4,122 was raised by a bucket collection at the recent water festival.

"We had 50 collectors this year, when on previous years we have only had 15 or so," said Mrs Walker.