Around 30 protestors had gathered outside Attleborough Town Hall on Monday evening for a “peaceful” demonstration against a town council decision to purchase the Queen’s Square Car Park from Breckland Council for £145,000.

The group arrived around 5.30pm, half an hour ahead of an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) at which councillors were expected to debate overturning the purchase.

Protestors brandishing a sign (Image: Henry Durand)

Police were in attendance (Image: Henry Durand)

However, the protest soon turned sour after news broke to many at the gathering that that the EGM had been cancelled at 5pm for not “being lawfully convened”.

The last-minute cancellation left the demonstrators - many of them elderly - forced to wait more than an hour in bitter weather until the scheduled full council meeting began at 7pm.

Attleborough Town Council’s latest mishap follows a long string of disputes, as two factions of councillors continue to engage in regular spats.

Locals huddle around the town hall (Image: Henry Durand)

Tensions in the town left many at the demonstration unwilling to give their names for fear of ridicule, with most only prepared to speak anonymously.

One said: “It’s disgusting but that’s what we expect at this point.”

"It's so unprofessional to council an hour before, many of us are elderly and vulnerable," added another.

“The room had been booked yet they decided to not let us in”, said a third. “It’s just unbelievable.”

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© Eastern Daily Press