A series of allegations have been levelled against Sandbach Town councillor David Jack by fellow councillors.

They include accusations that Cllr Jack has mocked other town councillors' physical appearance, and "bullied" staff over email.

Cllr Jack was first elected to Sandbach Town Council in 2019 and represents the town ward as an independent.

Cllr Donal Hegarty, Labour, says Cllr Jack mocked his appearance: "I got voted in and I was given the chairmanship of a sub committee that he ran the previous year [so wanted to meet him to handover].

"Before I got to meet him he started ranting about me being a political lackey for Labour and called me a 'donut' because I have no hair.

"He put that on Facebook without any reason. I [could] take him for defamation of character."

Cllr Hegarty, who has worked in local government for 35 years, says he has "never heard things as obnoxious" as statements from Cllr Jack.

However, Cllr Hegarty is not the only figure to have had abrasive dealings with Cllr Jack.

Emails seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service show Cllr Jack branding Cheshire East's highways and waste cabinet member Cllr Laura Crane "a housewife" during a discussion over parking in Sandbach.

Other emails show Cllr Jack calling another councillor a "liar and a cheat".

Ultimately, a letter from Sandbach's mayor, posted on Facebook by Cllr Jack, revealed that he had all email connectivity severed from council employees following "external, independent, professional advice".

It was taken on the basis that the content of Cllr Jack's communications were offensive to the council's staff, to such an extent that it was considered "bullying via email".

The Mayor Cllr Geraint Price Jones writes in the letter: "Following a series of email exchanges between yourself and the employees of Sandbach Town Council, referencing the Council's staff as a whole and individuals, it has been brought to the attention of the Mayor that the content of these emails has caused offence to more than one employee; recently affecting our duty of care as an employer.

"Having sought external, independent, professional advice regarding this matter, a decision under Standing Order 27 has been taken, which instructs the Council's IT provider to sever all official email connection addressed from David Jack to Council employees, with immediate effect and until further notice."

In response to the allegations, Cllr Jack told Sandbach Nub News: "I am sick and tired of labour's mudslinging and claiming everything that anyone says in opposition is considered bullying.

"Labour has issued a raft of proposals that have gone ahead without public consultation. It is my democratic right to challenge these decisions."

The councillor went onto describe the Labour group as a "vile cult" and alleges he, his supporters and family have been targeted to "discredit opposition".

Cllr Jack claims he was blocked from sending emails to staff because he opposed higher payments for town council staff working from home. He added this has limited his ability to get information and "hold the council to account".