Protest leader in angry clash

The leader of the campaign to save Coseley Baths went toe-to-toe with councillors at a heated meeting before being challenged by the chairman to stand against him at the next election.

Brian Guest, of the Save Coseley Baths group, launched a tirade at members of the North Dudley area committee when the floor was opened to questions.

He was backed by a noisy audience of 150 Coseley residents who packed into Roberts Primary School, in Lower Gornal.

The 65-year-old, of Elmwood Rise, Sedgley, branded borough leader Councillor Anne Millward "a disgrace" after she invited bidders to come forward and save the baths while pointing out they were making a loss of £300,000 a year.

Mr Guest claimed the comments were designed to discourage investors.

He also claimed other leisure centres in the borough were making a bigger loss and warned councillors they faced a fight to hold on to their seats at the next election.

"We have been out in your wards and of 1,000 people only one said they would vote for you again," he said.

"That is what the people think of what you have done."

Councillor Tim Wright, chairman of the meeting, ordered helpers circulating microphones to speakers in the audience at the meeting to switch off Mr Guest's device.