SHOCK and dismay turned to fury as Halton Mayor Peter Lloyd Jones was ousted by just 29 Tory votes - shattering his quarter of a century career in politics.
Ironically, his demise came just two minutes before his wife, Martha, became a councillor for the first time - in Norton South.
Solicitor Mr Lloyd Jones immediately vowed to take legal action, accusing Ditton freight village protestors of "scurrilous" behaviour and breaching election rules.
"We will be contesting it," he pledged, minutes after the midnight declaration.
"They attached a banner outside the polling station and members of the group were sitting within a 12ft fence around it.
"They issued a scurrilous personal attack on me."
For the full story see next week's World.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article