The trouble erupted minutes after the council failed to reach agreement on a list of contentious items - including the oft-mentioned Charles and Di mug - to be removed from council property with the aim of creating a 'neutral space'. There was a long and heated debate on the issue.

Colr Brolly said: "There was a particularly nasty mood among the young men who were there. They spat at us and they were very vitriolic and made obscene comments and threats to us. When we got into the car one man threw a Union Jack over it and shouted obscenities at us."

Colr Donaghy said: "As I got into Anne's car I saw a man running towards us. I locked the door as quickly as I could and he started kicking the car. It was terrifying."

As the incident developed, Colr Brolly got out of the car and confronted the youths and there was a tense stand-off as they continued to hurl abuse at her.

A group of around 60 protestors turned up for the meeting, where the issue of neutral spaces in council areas was being discussed.
Colr Leslie Cubitt, who at one point wrapped himself in a Union Jack, said he did not see the incident. He said: "I was doing a phone interview at the time and was standing round the corner. I didn't see anything."

Colr Donaghy said she thought Colr Cubitt was able to see it.
The police arrived a short time later and dispersed the crowd, at which point Colr Cubitt thanked the protesters for coming.

At the meeting it was agreed that the sub committee that drew up the list of contentious items will meet again to examine its terms of reference and the possibility of adding an extra unionist seat to the sub committee.