County councillor Tony Molland claims he was sacked as chairman of the influential regulatory committee of Wiltshire County Council because of his opposition to its bid to create one council in Wiltshire.

Tory Coun Molland, who represents Avon and Pewsey at County Hall and has just been re-elected as district councillor for All Cannings, was informed this week that he had been stripped of his chairmanship.

He told the Gazette: "Basically, it is because I challenged the figures on cost savings which it is claimed will be made if a unitary authority is set up. It has nothing to do with my ability to deal with the committee. I was told I was being sacked because the officers can't work with me.

"I am disgusted my own party should be behaving in this way."

But council leader Jane Scott said her decision to sack Coun Molland from the chairmanship of the regulatory committee had nothing to do with his opposition to the unitary bid, which she has championed from the start.

She said: "I made it very clear when I took over as leader that people would be moved around."