A major sponsor of Banbury in Bloom has threatened to withdraw after the chairman of the event's organising committee was dropped.

Town councillor Gordon Gerry was relieved of his post just weeks after quitting the Tory group to stand as an Independent candidate in the Cherwell District Council elections.

Mr Gerry said: "I've done a lot of work in past years and even if they dropped me as chairman, I would have thought there was room for me on the committee.

"Banbury in Bloom should be non-political, but my face doesn't fit anymore now I'm no longer a Tory group member."

SOS Recruitment, run by Donna Boyles, is one of the main sponsors.

Mrs Boyles said: "I won't pull out of this year's event, but I definitely won't sponsor it again if Mr Gerry isn't involved."

Banbury Town Council leader John Colegrave denied the decision was political.

He said: "Gordon did not say which committees he wanted to be on.

"He's no longer a member of my group, and it's not my job to look after him."

Mr Colgrove said Mr Gerry could join the committee if other members agreed, in recognition of his hard work.