Two councillors were told they would be suspended from the Conservative group at Maldon District Council for speaking to the Standard about wheelie bins coming to the district.

Bob Boyce, leader of the council, sent an e-mail to the council’s Conservative members after councillors Miriam Lewis and Stephen Savage commented on the introduction of wheelie bins and fortnightly rubbish collections in last week’s Standard.

The e-mail, which stated that he had suspended Mrs Lewis and Mr Savage because of a “breach of trust” following the coverage, was rescinded within minutes when it emerged neither had provided information not already in the public domain.

Mr Boyce wrote in the e-mail, which was sent on Thursday and has been seen by the Standard, said: “I have had the unpleasant task of suspending Cllrs Lewis and Savage, under Rules 11.4, under what I consider was a breach of trust with regard to the waste contract when it was clearly stated both at the working group and the seminar that all press issues relating to the waste contract should be directed through the press office."

See this week's Maldon Standard for the full story.