TORIES have been branded 'distasteful' for highlighting a borough councillor's illness.

In a letter to the Pioneer the Conservative group on the council alleges Labour failed to follow guidelines after one of its members, Cllr Dave Garroch, fell ill.

This has led to a by-election being called in Cllr Garroch's ward of Stanlow & Wolverham on November 11.

The local Tories' deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Anderson, wrote: 'This by-election need never happen [sic] were it not for the failure of the majority Labour group to follow the simple rules for councillors who fall ill.

'As a result, we say the widely respected Cllr Garroch was needlessly disqualified from office.'

The council's Conservative leader, Myles Hogg, had offered to let Cllr Garroch return unopposed to the ward if he were reselected by Labour. But he was not.

Cllr Anderson adds: 'Yet again, Labour shows a lack of respect not only for their own voters but for long-standing, hardworking members of their own party by discarding Cllr Garroch through their selection process.'

Labour's Cllr Justin Madders accused the Tories of making 'political capital' out of the by-election. He said: 'Frankly, it's disgusting that the Tories are bringing [Cllr Garroch's illness] into it.

'We are talking about someone's individual circumstances here. It's distasteful, but it sums them up.

'The Tories have no more right to comment on a Labour candidate than we have to comment on theirs.'