But in recent years, things seem to have been running a bit more smoothly in North Walsham. Until now, that is.

Trouble is again brewing in the town which has seen its council hit by an extraordinary series of rows triggered by the most unlikely of causes.

The turmoil appears to have been kicked off by council workers removing a much-loved feature of the town, a rocking horse which had been a fixture of its main park since the 1960s.

Its removal, which involved it being cut in half, prompted a groundswell of anger in the town rarely seen since the widespread social uprising of 1381.

The council was hit by a wave of popular outrage, which appears to have kick-started a chain reaction at the authority.

Peasant's Revolt re-enactors in costume for a ceremony celebrating the anniversary of the violent battle in 1381 (Image: Denise Bradley)

The discord has led to three of its members quitting and has been blamed for employees going off sick.

At the same time, thousands of pounds are being spent on HR firms amid multiple grievance complaints levelled at staff and councillors.

Meanwhile, the Monitoring Officer at North Norfolk District Council, which oversees the town council, has been drawn in to try to restore stability.

One town resident, who did not wish to be named, described the situation as a "real mess".

WHAT IS GOING ON?

Much of the town council discussions about the internal unrest have been held in private.

But sources have said things started to unravel after the unpopular eviction of the rocking horse from Memorial Park, in February.

The play equipment had been used by children for decades but it was suddenly dismantled and removed that month.

It led to hundreds of complaints and an intervention from the then local MP, Duncan Baker.

The rocking horse in North Walsham's Memorial Park (Image: Newsquest)

The council said it was removed due to "wear and tear" and that it will be reinstated at some point.

However,........

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