A Maldon District Council meeting has been adjourned and livestreaming suspended just over 10 minutes in, after members voted to remove a councillor from the meeting.

Councillor Mark Heard, the council chairman, asked for security to remove Councillor Chrisy Morris from the meeting taking place tonight (Thursday, 16 December) after he continued speaking despite members voting for him to no longer be heard.

After the meeting began, Councillor Morris told members he wanted to make a declaration of interest but began discussing how he feels "let down" by the council.

Councillor Heard said: "This is not a declaration."

He continued: "I don't want any preamble, I just want the declaration."

As tensions began to rise, Councillor Morris responded: "Now you're refusing my declaration just like a point of order."

He added: "I'm a democratically-elected member and I will be heard."

It follows the cancellation of last month's district council meeting, when members walked out in protest after Councillor Morris arrived with a megaphone and repeatedly shouted "point of order" as Councillor Heard opened the meeting.

Councillors were discussing sanctions against Councillor Morris, after two investigations into his behaviour earlier this year recommended he had bullied council members.

Members are meant to discuss tonight the items on the agenda which had to be shelved when the meeting was abruptly ended last month - this includes the local development plan.

Livestreaming remains suspended.

UPDATED, 16/12/2021, 8.17PM: The meeting has now been closed after Councillor Morris refused to leave the building.