A LONG-serving councillor said he was 'shocked' after his boss booted him from his cabinet just hours before a crucial meeting.

Richard Langridge said he went home instead of sticking around to vote against pivotal housing plans on Wednesday, after new West Oxfordshire District Council leader James Mills sacked him from his inner circle.

The Witney North councillor was due to oppose plans to allocate an extra 5,000 homes homes in the district's Local Plan, particularly 1,400 north of Witney, but too shaken by his sudden demotion to brave the meeting two hours later.

Mr Langridge, who has been in the cabinet for the majority of his nine years as a district councillor, said: "There was a lot of pressure from the Conservative group to fall in line so I was removed. The only conclusion I have drawn was that it was to prevent me from voting in the debate. I was extremely surprised and shocked."

He said he was 'extremely disappointed' that the plan was passed to proceed for consultation and said the homes would be 'disastrous' for Witney.

He pledged that the 'fight will go on' and said he will push for the site to be relocated in Carterton where homes are 'desperately needed'.

Mr Mills insisted he had tried to organise an earlier meeting with Mr Langridge and the vote had 'nothing to do with my decision'.

He added: "I did not prevent him from attending full council and voting. Given that he felt so strongly about it I would have expected him to attend."

He said the reshuffle will save taxpayers £11,000 a year and would bring 'fresh impetus and expertise' to residents.