THE councillor at the heart of the Bournemouth beach row has been hit with a historic vote of no confidence.

Roger West said it was the "day democracy died" after a sensational council meeting yesterday evening.

He stood accused of bringing the town into disrepute after the Daily Echo reported his complaints about stones on Southbourne beach.

The Conservatives said he was publicity-seeking rather than working with the panel members and won last night's vote 5-2.

Cllr West is this weekend considering his position as chairman of the environment scrutiny panel - after the first motion of its kind in the town's history. He said: "I've had an awful few days and my wife has told me to pack it in many times."

Cllr Ron Whittaker, independent, told the meeting: "I haven't known anything like it in 35 years. I'm appalled, and saddened, and frightened."

All the Tories who spoke last night admitted the state of the beach was a problem.

But Cllr Mark Anderson told Cllr West he was hi-jacking the agenda to get publicity.

And Cllr Peter Charon said: "There's a problem with 400-500m of beach but we have around 10km.

"The sensationalist headlines just put people's backs up. There's a balance between representing residents and bringing the town into disrepute."

Cllr West said he has been "inundated" with messages of support, adding that he had been raising the issue for years including in February, before the local election which saw his Liberal Democrats ousted from power.

Cllr Claire Smith, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, told the meeting: "Our first job is to represent the people. We aren't the council's apologists. We have freedom of speech - that wasn't taken away from us when we were elected.

"Tory leader Stephen MacLoughlin wants to send a clear message to all of us to be careful in the future.

"There are many things that frighten me in this world. What doesn't is Cllr MacLoughlin and other bullies because we have to speak up for our residents.

"It's been indicated to me by a source I should watch my back. I have reported it to democratic services and the monitoring officer."

Cllr Charon said afterwards the idea for the vote was a decision by the whole Conservative group.

The rest of the agenda was deferred and the no confidence vote will be debated before the full council meeting on December 4.