COUNCILLORS clashed during round two in a fight to elect Ferndown Town Council's mayor.

Last year's mayor Lesley Dedman stood for election for a second year against Roberta Lovett, and again beat Cllr Lovett for the second year in a row in a secret ballot.

Cllr Lovett as deputy mayor served in 2007 for several months in place of mayor Liz Stevens after she was signed off with stress.

Cllr Queenie Comfort, who leads the Ferndown First group on the town council, said she wanted councillors to vote for the new mayor by a show of hands around the table.

"Our standing orders do show we have two forms of voting - a show of hands and a roll call," she said.

"I know last time you had a secret ballot.

"I would request we use our own standing orders and that a ballot need not take place. It could be taken by a show of hands or a roll call."

Her point was seconded by Cllr Pauline Reynolds, who said they used to have a show of hands.

But mayor Lesley Dedman said it was their custom and practice, when they had more than one candidate, to hold a secret vote where candidates marked an X on a ballot paper.

Cllrs Dedman and Lovett made speeches then left the room, votes were cast on paper and collected by deputy town clerk Paul Falconbridge, and counted several times.

Cllr Dedman was voted in as mayor for 2008 to 2009 by 11 votes to Cllr Lovett's eight votes.

Cllr Jason Lawford was elected as deputy mayor.

He had 11 votes to Cllr Jean Read's nine votes, with one councillor abstaining.