South Tyneside's monthly meeting of all councillors burst into a cross-chamber war of words as Independent Coun Allen Branley repeatedly demanded a public explanation for Coun Eddie McAtominey's resignation from the council's Cabinet, and asked for him to resign as a councillor.

The Hebburn South councillor was recently convicted of drink driving and stepped down from his Cabinet post this week.

His solicitor Terence Carney told the court he was suffering cancer.

At the start of the meeting at South Shields Town Hall, Mayor Alex Donaldson used a Mayor's communication to state that Coun McAtominey had stepped down, but didn't explain any reasons why.

He said: "This is information for members. Coun McAtominey has stepped down from his role on the Cabinet and his position on the police authority.

"The Cabinet portfolio will be overseen by Deputy Leader, Coun Alan Kerr, for the time being."

But Coun Allen Branley immediately called for the Mayor's attention, and said: "I didn't quite catch the reason why Coun McAtominey has stepped down."

The Mayor said: "It's a personal matter which is not for debate. I'm not prepared to have this debated in a public meeting."

But Coun Branley said: "Well in that case can I request that he resigns from the council?"

During a later tribute speech by Labour councillor John McCabe, he said that absent Coun McAtominey was 'here in spirit'.

Coun Branley immediately sprung to his feet, saying: "In spirit?"

Met with a barrage of catcalls from the Labour benches, he later added: "Hey, I didn't bring up his drink driving charge," triggering more chaos.

Coun McAtominey's wife, Coun Nancy Maxwell, stood up to defend her husband, saying: "Coun McAtominey is ill. It's commonly known that he is ill and he does have cancer.

"I'm sorry if he's not here for you to attack. But I'm sure if we pointed out every time you weren't here at a meeting the opposition would be up in arms."

Mayor Coun Alex Donaldson had several confrontations with opposition councillors, threatening at one point: "I'll adjourn this meeting if this continues and we'll be here all night."