PARISH councillors were branded a "laughing stock" by disgruntled residents at a frosty council meeting.

Anger erupted at the annual general meeting on May 14 as villagers said they felt ignored by councillors who sit on Piddington and Wheeler End Parish Council.

One resident called the council a "laughing stock" because he believes the council is so badly organised.

In a heated debate about a planning application to build two houses on Princes Road, an angry woman told the council that she was not receiving their support in fighting the proposals.

She said: "You're our parish councillors. You should be fighting for us. The parish council have got to back us up and say okay Piddington is an overdevelopment."

The woman expressed her desire to see a united front from the council in future and called for an end to bickering between members.

Councillors argued with the parish clerk about the accuracy of the accounts and villagers were up in arms about plans for a "chat" shelter for youngsters and the possibility of an £80,000 burial ground.

Jim Lassen, who has lived in the parish for more than two years, believes the organisation and communications of the council are more important than any individual issue.

He said: "I want a change of regime. It's not working. What we are lacking is information. The minutes don't seem to be available so we don't know what's going on."

Mr Lassen told the Free Press that residents intend to be more active in making sure the council is held to account and hopes the new chairman can ease the tensions between the councillors.

He said: "There's a lack of feedback and that needs to change. They need to be more dynamic and hopefully Tim can help bring about that change."

The newly-elected chairman, Tim Ing-Simmons, is also hoping his unanimous election will help heal the rifts. He said that the council are preparing a parish questionnaire which will help the council understand the most important issues.