BITTER opposition greeted the appointment of Stourport's new Tory mayor as Labour councillors claimed he was unfit for the post.

Stephen Clee was voted in by the Conservative-controlled town council for a one-year term with four Labour councillors opposing the choice.

Their hostility centred on the fact Mr Clee, of Bewdley, does not live in Stourport and his alleged "appalling" attendance record at monthly town council meetings.

The new mayor - who is also a Bewdley town councillor, a Wyre Forest district councillor and a Worcestershire county councillor - brushed off the attacks and pledged to use his experience for the "betterment of Stourport".

The leader of the town council's Labour group Reg Knott said: "We have somebody who does not come from Stourport and they're being voted in as mayor of Stourport - I think it's made a mockery of the position. Stephen Clee who was under fire from Labour Party members as he took over as Mayor of Stourport.

"You just need to look back at some of the attendance figures of Councillor Clee over the last few years and they have been appalling."

Outgoing Labour deputy mayor Vi Higgs echoed his comments.

"If a person does not live in Stourport you can't have its best interests at heart."

She added: "Stephen has simply not taken part in most of what goes on in this town council and that's the planning.

"I would have been prepared to support almost anyone we have but I can't support Stephen Clee."

Former Labour mayor Mick Grinnall said the appointment left him "cold".

Labour had controlled the town council since 1995 until the May 1 elections.

Speaking after last Thursday's annual town council meeting Mr Clee said: "The electorate of North ward returned me to the council on May 1. I got returned for a second term.

"I have the right to stand for the mayoralty the same as any other councillor."

He went on: "I spend an enormous amount of time in the town representing the community."

Mr Clee defended his attendance record saying he had missed just three of the 12 meetings last year. He added he had not voted on planning applications to enable him to "keep an open mind" as he also served as chairman of the district council's planning committee.

The new mayor, who praised his predecessor Don Giles for his achievements, has not yet announced who the mayoress will be but said one of his mayoral charities will be the Stourport branch of the Royal British Legion.

Conservative Alan Wood is the new deputy mayor.