A meeting of local councillors descended into chaos last night after a Conservative councillor claimed "people are cutting the heads off of cats" in local parks, and another allegedly branded his own colleagues "scum bags".

The extraordinary scenes unfolded at Bexley Council in South East London as members debated plans to build a Go Ape adventure attraction in Danson Park in the heart of the borough.

Heated debate saw the public gallery repeatedly erupting in jeers as exasperated officers and councillors appealed for calm.

Midway through the meeting, Conservative councillor Barry Saunders, who represents Falconwood and Welling, made the astonishing claim about cats being decapitated, citing it as an "issue" in the area. The Daily Express has not been able to independently verify this claim.

The meeting was interrupted several times as members of the public jeered councillors and officers, with security called at one point as tempers flared.

In shocking scenes, one Tory councillor was heard, according to numerous sources speaking to the Daily Express, branding colleagues "scum bags" as the session spiralled out of control.

The row centres on plans for the Go Ape site on Danson Park, which campaigners argue is metropolitan open land that should be protected from further commercialisation.

National Planning Policy, and the London Plan, does allow for facilities for outdoor sport and recreation on such land.

Bexley's Reform group, which surged from zero to seven seats at last month's local elections, said it believed there were more grounds to reject the scheme than to support it.

A Bexley Reform spokesman rounded on the Conservatives, saying: "It was clear the Tories who stood on a manifesto to stop reform building on green belt are simply disingenuous."

The spokesman accused the Tories of allowing councillor Dave Courtois to campaign on a ticket to block the proposal despite having given it "glowing approval at pre-application stage in June 2024".

The new facility will take up less than 3 per cent of the entire park, and it is understood that the application makes use of an existing building and would see two tents and a timber-clad storage container built.

He added: "What will Cllr Courtois do next? He was outraged and shouted shame on you to his colleagues. Will he hold his nose and still support the Tories for a seat at the high table?"

A spokesman for the local Conservative-run council confirmed that the move was a "regulatory decision which considered all views expressed and the application's compliance with planning policies."

They added: "Danson Park is already home to several water sports, a playground, a splash park, tennis courts, football pitches, and several businesses.

"Now that the application is approved, Bexley Council will engage with the company to deliver this new facility and secure the best deal on behalf of residents."