CONTROVERSIAL Worcester Councillor Alan Amos is today fighting off calls to resign and re-contest his seat - on his first day with the Conservatives.

At last night's full council meeting he ended his 12-month term at the Mayor of Worcester and took his seat among the Tory benches, saying it had been "a wonderful year" with the chains.

During the meeting:

- Labour group leader Councillor Adrian Gregson criticised the Tory leadership, saying he was "not sure if some of them know how to lie straight in bed"

- Councillor Simon Geraghty, the city's Conservative leader joked that his new group size of 19 was complete "unless other members of the opposition want to join us", goading the other side of the chamber

- Labour tried to get Jabba Riaz elected as the new deputy mayor, a bid which failed, during which Councillor Lynn Denham took a veiled swipe at Councillor Amos

- Conservative Councillor Andy Roberts said he "admired the way Alan's risen above petulance and sometimes rudeness" from his critics

Councillor Amos was re-elected to represent Warndon for Labour three years ago but quit last year, turning independent, and in return was made city mayor by the Conservatives.

He announced yesterday that he was joining the Tory backbenches - following on from his time as a Conservative MP for Hexham between 1987 and 1992.

During last night's meeting Councillor Amos did not mention his latest decision, focusing instead on his year as mayor.

He said: "One of my biggest pleasures was to have invited a whole range of groups and individuals into the parlour - it was truly wonderful to see their faces as they came in, in truth the honour was all mine."

During his speech he said he wanted to offer his "sincerest thanks" to the city's peope, insisting it was "easy to see how time and time again, we've been voted one of the best places to live".

He said he'd "lost count of the number of tourists" who wandered in to the parlour, adding: "But what matters to me more than anything else is the piles of letters I've had from hundreds of people.

"It's been a truly wonderful year, the memories of which I will treasure forever."

Councillor Roberts was among those paying tribute, saying: "Alan was a mayor for the people, we will remember his year fondly, his mayoralty has been a triumph."

He said "Alan has had his own style" for his year as mayor, calling it a "tremendous success", before saying he admired the way he kept calm despite the flak in recent months.

Labour tried to get Councillor Jabba Riaz elected as deputy mayor, a role he lost out on to Conservative Mike Whitehouse.

Before they took a vote Labour's Lynn Denham said one of Councillor Riaz's qualities was "queuing", saying he was happy to "wait his turn" in trying to become mayor, taking a swipe at Councillor Amos.

Later in the meeting Councillor Adrian Gregson, Labour group leader, said: "I'm not sure if some of the Conservative leadership know how to lie straight in bed".

Councillor Geraghty jibbed that his current tally of councillors was up to date unless Labour politicians want to jump across.

After the meeting Councillor Gregson urged him to re-stand in the ward, saying: "This is always a problem when someone leaves a group.

"When Jabba Riaz did (he switched from Tory to Labour) it was just before we had elections and we put him up as the candidate - Alan's not doing that.

"The problem is, what does he stand for?"

Councillor Amos today refused to discuss it.

He is up for re-election next year with a majority of 566, but is widely expected to be placed in a 'safe' Tory seat elsewhere in the city, should he want it.

* For the new-look Worcester City Council cabinet see here.

* For yesterday's story on Councillor Amos' Tory move, click here.