Tempers flared once again as councillors and members of the public clashed at the extraordinary meeting - in both the technical and figurative sense of the word - called to tackle claims of bullying and harassment.

In scenes that participants repeatedly described as like something seen in a school playground, the session involved two hours of bickering, shouting, finger-pointing, heckles, threats of mass resignation but just the one walk-out.

The meeting had been arranged to discuss tensions in the town which have been rising for months and are centred on the council.

A war of words broke out at Attleborough Town Hall on Monday (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2015)

Locals have been expressing anger at a series of unpopular decisions taken by the council, including the move to take back and manage a building used by Attleborough Town Football Club and its scheduling of a Christmas market on the same weekend as an independently-run festive carnival, resulting in its temporary cancellation.

But there has also been criticism of councillors over non-council activities, including their business dealings.

This has led to splits on the council which have also led to factions forming in Attleborough, with people supporting one group of councillors or the other.

In recent weeks, firms in the town have reported being the targets of dirty tricks which they have linked to the unrest, with a hoax £180 Chinese takeaway ordered to a pub and a cleaning firm sent to another company without its knowledge.

Monday's meeting saw two motions put forward - one to protect councillors from cyberbullying, the second to condemn cyberbullying.

Attleborough town centre (Image: Supplied)

However, both motions took a backburner amid the chaotic scenes, with the public accusing councillors of bad behaviour themselves.

The tone was set by one of the first exchanges, involving Richard Allington, a member of the public who founded the controversial Facebook group "Tattleborough Nights" which chronicles much of the shenanigans and which councillors say generates much of the criticism towards them.

He accused an unnamed councillor of........

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