She says an argument had broken out during a confidential discussion about her decision to remove some dead wreaths from the Blidworth War Memorial.

"Some councillors took issue with the fact that I removed the wreaths saying I had been disrespectful by not consulting anyone," she said.

"But I've spoken to the Royal British Legion about it and they say I haven't done anything wrong.

"I stand by what I did –– the wreaths were dead and I think it would have been disrespectful to leave them there."

Coun Terry Hurst says that some councillors were angry the meeting had not been open to the public.

"They said it should have been held in public, but it was felt it wasn't right to air the parish council's dirty laundry in public," he said.

"The chairman and parish clerk decided it was something that should be heard in private and their decision should have been respected."

And at an extraordinary meeting of the parish council on Thursday, vice-chairman Coun Geoff Merry asked the council to vote in a new chairman, and Coun Peter Stocks was elected.

Coun Merry's wife Lynn was one of the councillors to quit over the row – but he refused to be drawn on what had taken place during the original meeting.

"We don't want to dwell on what happened in the meeting," he said. "I think I speak for all the councillors when I say we should move on and concentrate on doing the best for Blidworth."

But Coun Terry Hurst confirmed he had reported Coun Will Richards and Coun Geoff Merry to Newark & Sherwood District Council, which will decide within the next fortnight whether there should be an investigation.

Now Blidworth voters will be asked whether there should be an election to find three new councillors. But if less than 20 say they do, the parish council will co-opt three people of their choice.