Attleborough Town Council said the blunder was due to the member of staff, who has since left the role, not being "au fait" with technology.

The authority has declined to specify how the phone had been used during this time but has agreed to cover half of the costs, admitting it should have put a spending cap on the device.

This decision has been met with anger among taxpayers, who demanded councillors pay out of their own pockets instead.

It comes at a time when tensions are running high between the authority and locals, with one member charged with criminal damage and accusations of intimidation and violence being flung about at meetings.

The meeting of Attleborough Town Council earlier this month (Image: Newsquest) The total mobile phone bill of £3,744 was revealed at a town council meeting earlier this month, where the broaching of the subject was met with laughter from councillors.

The clerk, Sharon Smyth, said the amount was spent between January and the beginning of March last year by an ex-employee, who would be required to pay half of the bill.

Ms Smyth said: "We felt that, because we........

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