THE Mayor of Worcester has been branded "over-bearing and pompous" by a former holder of the post following a walk-out protest at his behaviour.

Three Labour councillors quit a meeting of Worcester City Council last night after the Mayor, Councillor Gareth Jones, refused to listen to their objections against his behaviour, telling them "I can say what I like".

This morning, he accused the trio of behaving like "spoilt children".

"We felt it was very unfair of him to use the fact he was chairing the meeting to be able to do what he wants - that isn't democratic," said Coun Jo Hodges, who was Mayor between 1999 and 2000, and who joined Marc Bayliss and Paul Denham in the walk-out.

"When I was Mayor I never behaved in that over-bearing and pompous way. It's a civic position, for representing the city on civic occasions, but in the chamber you are just another councillor," she added.

The row came after the council debated a motion on whether a national referendum should be held on a European Union constitution.

When the vote had been taken, with only Labour councillors opposing the idea, Coun Jones began to expresss his thoughts on the proposal and the European issue.

Coun Roger Berry objected that it was not within his role to restart the debate but Coun Jones dismissed his protest. Gesturing to his desk, Coun Jones said: "My role as Mayor is here - I can say what I like. Are you restricting free speech?"

The three then picked up their belongings and left the chamber. Coun Jones finished his short speech and moved on to the next agenda item.

"If they don't want to take part in the debate and walk out like little spoilt children that's up to them," Coun Jones said today.

"I should have said what I said before they took the vote but I wasn't saying anything political. I was just making the point that they were stifling a view on a motion because they don't agree with it."

The Labour group plans to meet to discuss what action they will take over the incident.