A bid to give Colchester its first teenage mayor has been controversially blocked.

Plans to create the post of youth mayor were meant to give young people a louder voice on Colchester Council.

It was the brainchild of Lib Dem councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell.

She wanted the youth mayor to attend official events alongside the council's own mayor.

However, council leader Robert Davidson sparked a row when he said the mayor shouldn't be "shackled" by having a young person in tow.

Instead, the ruling Tory group rewrote the proposal, taking out any mention of a youth mayor, and congratulating council leaders on work already done to forge greater links with young people.

Mr Davidson said the decision would not stop the youth council electing its own mayor.

Lib Dems described the move as "deplorable".