TOWN clerk Graham Gittins stormed out of a council meeting in Marlborough on Monday saying: "I am sick of all these tantrums so I am leaving."

His action was the latest in a series of rifts that have developed in the town council over recent months.

The row brewed up after Coun Marian Hannaford, who has been at loggerheads with the clerk for two years, asked why council staff had consulted Marlborough-based solicitors Withy King over a tenancy matter when members had been told its legal consultants were Swindon-based Thring Townsend.

The council had previously used Withy King in negotiations over the wall behind the war memorial with the adjacent landowner who at the time was Coun Stewart Dobson whose personal solicitors were Thring Townsend.

The town clerk said that a solicitor who formerly worked for Thring Townsend but is now with Withy King had knowledge of the town council tenancies and that the Mayor, Graham Francis, gave the go ahead for him to be consulted.

In an obvious reference to Coun Dobson and Coun Hannaford's recent announcement that they are to marry, Mr Gittins then suggested that Coun Hannaford should not be taking part in a debate involving her fianc's solicitors.

Coun Hannaford protested and demanded an apology from the clerk.

At that point deputy mayor Hilary Cripps had to hold the town clerk's arm to prevent him leaving.

Coun Richard Allen then queried minutes of a special council meeting to discuss an auditors' report that slammed the council's handling off its accounts for last year's 800th charter anniversary celebrations.

Coun Allen said his resolution that councillors regretted the financial mismanagement had not been included and forced a recorded vote that the minutes should be amended.

At this point the town clerk left.

On Tuesday Mr Gittins told the Gazette: "I am ashamed to be associated with some of the councillors. I am now considering my future."