A retired sergeant major who locked parish councillors out of their own village hall has been sacked as caretaker, it has emerged.

The councillors had to hold an emergency meeting in the car park, then decided to break into Stambridge Memorial Hall to hold crucial talks about its future.

Stan Venn, 73, - who has looked after the hall for ten years on a voluntary basis - said: "I am absolutely gutted.

"I think what's happened is disgraceful."

After the lock-out, councillors elected a new management committee that will apply for lottery funding to pay for vital repairs to the historic building.

They then decided to sack Mr Venn, with parish chairman Phil Capon declaring: "Enough is enough."

Mr Capon said councillors were urged by the charity commission to convene the meeting of Stambridge Memorial Hall Trust management committee.

However, Mr Venn said: "Councillor Capon was not a confirmed trustee, and had no right to call a management committee meeting.

"I wrote to the charity commissioners and said I would not grant admission for the meeting unless there was a court order."

After councillors had forced their way into the building, Mr Capon phoned Mr Venn, of Stambridge Road, Rochford, and told him he was being "replaced."

Stan, who reached the rank of regimental sergeant major during 27 years of army service, said he is now seeking legal advice.

Mr Capon said the charity commission authorised the meeting to take place, because there was no management committee, and it was essential to have one to apply for lottery funding.

He said: "We had an emergency meeting outside the memorial hall. There was an overwhelming vote in favour of obtaining access."

The new management committee plans to meet again on October 5 to elect a chairman, appoint a new caretaker and cleaner, and work out how to start fundraising.

Mr Capon said repairs were urgently needed to stop the hall becoming unsafe.

Of Mr Venn, he added: "This man has done an awful lot for the community, but if things are not going to progress because of one man, we have to say enough is enough."

The new management committee will also be dealing with complications over leases to the football club.

A spokesman for the Charity Commission said: "What has taken place highlighted a wider dispute going on between the charity an the local football club.

"We oversaw the formation of a proper management committee which we hope will now be able to resolve this."

He confirmed that Mr Venn had complained to the commission.

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