TORY district and town councillors walked out of a meeting of the Joint Councillors' Forum on Tuesday night.

Alex Stewart-Cleary said the walkout was triggered by an attack on fellow Conservative Beryl Hickling, by Lib Dem member Graham Myatt.

"Coun Myatt's conduct was disgusting. To publicly try to belittle a councillor of her experience is not acceptable. He seemed not to be aware of her service as a county, town and district councillor."

The incident happened after Coun Hickling was proposed for the vice-chairmanship of the committee.

Coun Jeremy Webb, chairman of the forum, said: "Coun Hickling was proposed and Coun Myatt said something on the lines of Coun Wild being more qualified. Beyond that, I really don't remember what he said. Then a number of people got up to leave."

Coun Myatt said after the meeting: "I did make a remark which was unfortunate, which I don't intend to repeat now, and which I apologised for at the time and again this morning to the person it was directed at.

"But it's important to note the Conservatives left after the vote, which did not go in favour of their candidate."

Coun Hickling said: "It was really quite hurtful as the put-down was so cavalier. After the vote we had a pow-wow and decided to leave as it was not worth staying if the meeting was going to be like that."

She confirmed that Coun Myatt had apologised the next morning.

The joint council forums were set up as a point of contact between councillors and members of the public after reorganisation of Malvern Hills District Council and abolition of the committee structure.