A row over the ownership of two ceremonial medals will see a former mayor take Whitehaven Town Council to court next month.

Michael Guest, who was mayor of Whitehaven from May 2015 until May 2016, is claiming for the return of goods or their value after he purchased the medals, costing £1517.03 (exc VAT), using his mayor's allowance.

At a meeting in February, councillors voted to keep the medals for town council use.

But Mr Guest, who wanted a "keepsake as recognition of his year of office", believes the medals have been "wrongfully detained" by the council.

Whitehaven Town Council will contest the claim, which will be heard at West Cumbria Court House, in Workington, on September 18.

Mr Guest's claim states he "is the owner of and is entitled to the possession of two medals" which are "related to the claimant being holder of office of mayor at Whitehaven Town Council".

It says as mayor of the town council he was entitled to a £3,060 allowance, under the Local Government Act 1972.

This reads: "A parish council may pay the chairman for the purpose of enabling him to meet the expenses of his office such allowance as the council thinks reasonable."

Mr Guest's claims adds: "The defendant council did not impose any conditions limiting just what that allowance could be used for and never has done."

It states "expenditure of the allowance does not form a part of the council's accounts other than to indicate that it has been paid to the chair".

"In the absence of any direction or limitation on its use by the parish council, it is for the chair to determine what it is spent on provided that it is spent on matters directly relating to the office."

The claim adds Mr Guest demanded, via email, the return of the medals in January but he has not received them, which he believes "amounts to a wrongful interference with goods and the tort of conversion" under the Torts Act 1977.

Whitehaven Town Council has submitted written evidence to contest the claim.

Mr Guest, of High Road, Kells, was a town councillor for the Kells ward until May, when he was removed due to non-attendance over six months.

He was an independent candidate in the Copeland by-election in 2017, receiving 811 votes as Trudy Harrison was named MP. He represents the Kells ward on Copeland Council.