CITY leaders have been accused of holding a "dog's dinner" of a debate in an attempt to reach an agreement over breaking up Worcester into new electoral wards.

The new wards will be set up to iron out inequalities in the number of people city councillors represent.

"Significant growth in the new areas has resulted in electoral inequalities," said Councillor Roger Berry at a full council meeting last night.

The majority of councillors were able to agree there should be 35 in total, with 27 council members of the east side of the city. There are currently 36 representatives on the council.

Councillors were able to agree there should be eight elected positions on the Westside, but not how these eight should be split up.

Conservatives backed a proposal for three wards - two having three councillors each, and one having two.

But Labour members said they preferred four wards of two representatives each.

After a debate described as a "dog's dinner" by the chairman, Coun David Clark, the Conservatives' proposal was passed, by 18 to 15.

But councillors were advised to provide a more unified response to give them a stronger negotiating position when the Local Government Commission makes a final decision.

"The time has come for a little reason and sense," said Coun Clark.

They voted to recommend eight councillors for the Westside, but did not say how they would be split up.

The deadline for any new proposals on how the boundaries should be split up is next Monday, October 22.