THE immediate past Mayor of Christchurch has claimed that the council leader told him to 'f**k off' and then pushed him on the shoulder in a bust up after a meeting at the civic offices on Tuesday night.

Cllr Fred Neale has now filed a formal complaint against Conservative Cllr Ray Nottage with the council's legal officer, Sophia Nartey.

The complaint makes an allegation of 'physical and verbal assault', according to one insider.

But Cllr Nottage told the Echo he disputed this version of events.

The alleged incident is said to have happened in the members' room after the vote of no confidence in Cllr Nottage which he won by 18 votes to three.

Independent Cllr Neale seconded the motion and in a speech applauded by dozens of residents in the public gallery, urged Cllr Nottage to quit.

He said: “Residents have informed me they have lost confidence in the current leadership over several months.

“Specifically, they demand from me to support this action and highlight how they feel about a number of recent issues.”

He added: “Not that long ago, this council was held in very high esteem. But the longer it goes on, the faster down that slippery aisle of mistrust we will all go.”

According to a witness who heard the exchange later, Cllr Neale was left "shaken and shocked."

Cllr Neale declined to discuss what had happened other than that he had filed a complaint and full statement.

But a source close to him told the Daily Echo: "Fred was in the members' room on his own and Ray followed him in. He was clearly angry. Fred was very upset afterwards."

The source claimed that some members of the ruling Conservative group had been pressuring Cllr Neale into withdrawing his name from the motion in the lead up to the council meeting.

Cllr Nottage said: "After a long evening, Cllr Neale refused to let me get my coat unless I shook his hand. I did use an expletive which I apologise for but nothing physical occurred. I am working with officers who are investigating the complaint made by Cllr Neale."

He said he had not tried to pressure Cllr Neale and was focussed on doing his best for Christchurch, saving money and protecting services.

"That is what drives me," he added.