A Conservative councillor alleged to have branded council estates as inferior to private homes has been censured and called on to apologise.

Stephen Horgan (Con, Billericay West) declined to comment despite the passing of a motion by Basildon's full council.

Mr Horgan was asked to apologise following comments made at a June 27 housing committee meeting.

Joe White (Lib Dem, Nethermayne), who proposed the motion, said tenants at the meeting had been left angry and upset.

Tory group leader, Malcolm Buckley, said the motion was based on a misinterpretation of what was said.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.