Labour Councillor - Violence

Chesterfield's mayor has been arrested in connection with an alleged neighbourhood dispute involving an axe and a baseball bat.

Chris Ludlow, her husband Kevin and a 30-year-old woman have been questioned by police and released on bail following an incident at a property in Poolsbrook.

Insp Ian Palfreyman, of Derbyshire Constabulary's Chesterfield division, said: "We can confirm there was an incident concerning three people involved in an alleged neighbourhood problem and they have been arrested and are subject to an on-going investigation."

Police state that the alleged incident involved an axe and baseball bat and damage to a door and a window at a property during the early hours of Friday morning.

The 55-year-old mayor, her husband and mayoral consort (49), who run the Victoria Inn at Lowgates, Staveley, and the 30-year-old woman, of Poolsbrook, were arrested on suspicion of causing damage and released on police bail until next month.

Cllr Ludlow has continued her mayoral duties including receiving a cheque from Chesterfield's Flower Lovers group, on Tuesday afternoon, for her Rainbow's End Appeal for worthy causes.

The mother-of-three who also has grandchildren and two step-children became the 367th Mayor of Chesterfield in May, last year, and is due to step down this month when deputy mayor Fred Quayle takes over the role.

Cllr Ludlow is a Labour party member, Staveley town councillor and Middlecroft and Poolsbrook borough councillor.

She has chaired the borough's recreation and leisure committee and is on Poolsbrook School and Norbriggs School board.

Both she, and a borough council spokesman, refused to comment.

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