A HEATED exchange between Tavistock's mayor and a former holder of the post this week led to the rare step of a town council meeting being adjourned.

Even a member of Tavistock's police force was called on to calm the situation, which occurred during the council's full meeting on Tuesday evening.

Tavistock resident Marjorie Corner, who was mayor of the town in 2002/3, had attended the meeting in order to speak during public question time.

But within seconds of beginning her speech, which related to staffing matters in the pannier market, she was stopped by the current mayor, Cllr Mandy Govier.

Cllr Govier told Mrs Corner that such matters were not an appropriate use of question time — but Mrs Corner, who is wheelchair-bound, continued.

'I have a right to ask a question,' she insisted.

As Mrs Corner continued to remonstrate, Cllr Govier called on PSCO Kevin Walsh to intervene.

Cllr Govier told Mrs Corner: 'Bearing in mind your previous position with the council, would it not have been sensible to approach the council or myself beforehand, also bearing in mind the sensitive nature of this issue?'

Cllr Govier was forced to adjourn the meeting and members began to file out of the council chamber past Mrs Corner, who continued to try to speak.

'This is discrimination,' said Mrs Corner, who ultimately agreed to leave the rapidly emptying room.

After the meeting resumed, Cllr Philip Sanders said the incident had been 'outrageous'.

Cllr Govier, who admitted to being somewhat shaken, said she had 'never known anything like it' and asked Cllr Ted Sherrell, the longest serving member with some 36 years' civic service under his belt, if he had experienced anything similar.

'It's a first,' admitted the bemused councillor.