DOG owners vented their fury this week at controversial proposals aimed at cleaning up Watchet's Memorial Ground.

Town councillors believed they had come up with an acceptable compromise earlier this year with a plan to make the sports pitches at the ground a dog-free zone and create a two-metre 'corridor' around the perimeter where dogs would only be allowed on leads.

The proposal was aimed at tackling the problem of dog mess but dog owners are unhappy at the area allocated for them, claiming it will be difficult for elderly and disabled people and totally inaccessible for wheelchair users.

And around 20 of them turned up to demonstrate their concerns at an extraordinary meeting of the town council on Monday.

Councillors had been due to consider the representations received in response to its proposals, with a view to moving forward with plans to seek 'dog exclusion' and 'dogs on leads' orders.

But after listening to the protesters, council chairman Cllr Sally de Renzy-Martin proposed that the issue should be deferred.

The council does not normally meet in August because of people's holiday commitments and the lack of business and the extraordinary meeting was attended by just seven of the 12-strong authority.

Dog owners who came along to put their case complained the special meeting had not been sufficiently advertised and should not have been held when so many councillors were absent.

They were told that it had been advertised as usual, with seven days' notice.

But Cllr de Renzy-Martin said in light of the number of councillors absent, she felt the issue should be deferred - a suggestion which was backed by other councillors.

Although the proposed orders were not discussed, Cllr David Banks said he wanted to make a personal statement about the treatment he had received from some opponents.

He told the meeting he was "heartily sick" of being abused via correspondence to the council or directly via email to his home.

In the latest email earlier this month, Cllr Banks said he had been vilified as being deceitful by a woman in the town whom he had never met or even heard of.

"This same person has also labelled me in previous correspondence as a dog hater and has implied that I have no care, feelings or consideration towards the elderly or infirm in our community.

"This is a totally offensive remark that shows no understanding of either my or many other councillors' personal responsibilities, obligations or affinities."

Cllr Banks said the woman who had written the email would never have the decency to apologise for the "gross injustice" of her remarks which showed no understanding of the background of the situation or any of the strict protocols governing public life and the legal restrictions governing council business and the duties and responsibilities of being a councillor.

"I wish to place on record that I abhor such behaviour that places a premium on bullying and intimidation and personal harassment and so little on understanding all the factors at play, and with none of the tolerance and reason which one should expect from a mature person adopting a responsible attitude."

The dog orders will be discussed at the council's next monthly meeting on September 13.