AN attempt to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at last week's meeting of the Forest Council was ruled out of order by the chairman.

A Tory councillor tried to pay tribute after the death of the former Conservative leader but the chairman made it clear that he did not want to set off an argument about Mrs Thatcher's legacy.

He said: "I've said I will not take anything on the death of Baroness Thatcher.

"We are a small district council and these things have been well versed.

"We have got a lot of business and there are differing views. This is not something we should be discussing tonight."