Whitehaven's latest town council meeting was controversially suspended after only nine minutes.

The meeting at the United Reformed Church Hall was cut short following a row between Coun Brian O'Kane, mayor of Whitehaven, and Coun Jayne Laine.

It happened after a member of the community raised an incident which is going through a complaints procedure with Copeland Council.

Coun O'Kane, who was chairing the town council meeting, said the issue could not be put to councillors as it was going through a complaints procedure with the borough council.

However, Coun Laine disputed this, saying the issue should be discussed as it was raised by a member of the public.

An argument ensued between both councillors, while the member of the public continued to attempt to make his point.

Coun O'Kane addressed the member of the public who raised the issue, saying: "I apologise for seeming to be so brusque but we've been given guidelines."

Further exchanges took place, with Coun O'Kane suggesting the council either continue with the agenda, or suspend the meeting. After further comments from Coun Laine, he cut the meeting short.

Afterwards, Coun O'Kane said: "I felt that I was left with no other option. I said there was a big agenda. I tried to move on."

He said he explained during the meeting that once the complaint had finished then "we would be quite happy" to discuss it.

"I just felt incredibly frustrated that we had an agenda with really crucial points on, such as Christmas and cleaning the town.

"I felt very frustrated in having to bring the meeting to a premature closure."

He added: "How can you carry on a meeting when the same councillor makes the same point?"

After the meeting, Coun Laine said she felt Coun O'Kane had "gagged a member of the public" from speaking, and said the man "had a right to make any comment".

"I just thought it was unfair that the chair kept on making these rulings," she said.

She claimed the town council is not following the rules it is meant to abide by.

"I said we are not complying [with standing orders]. I said that almost 15 times," she said.

The town council meeting has been rescheduled for next Thursday at 7pm at the United Reformed Church Hall, in Whitehaven.