Mayor spends night in the cells after pub fight over brunette

Witnesses said Michael Fryers, mayor of Lichfield in Staffordshire, had been chatting up an attractive brunette when her former partner took exception.

Both men squared up to each other and started grappling in the packed bar. A friend of the mayor then stepped in and fists started flying.

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Police were called and Conservative councillor Mr Fryers, who was elected mayor in May, was led out into a squad car to spend a night in custody.

One dismayed fellow councillor, John Walker, joked: 'He always thought he looked like John Prescott. Now he's acting like him.

'I've had a few political tussles with him over the years and he can be very aggressive in an argument. But I can't ever have imagined it leading to blows.'

The brawl broke out late on Friday night in the King's Head pub in the centre of the historic cathedral city.

Mr Fryers was arrested along with another man in the early hours of Saturday for assaulting a 54-year-old man who suffered minor injuries.

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King's Head landlord Stuart Green said: 'The mayor has been coming here for years and he's never caused any trouble before.

'But on Friday he was chatting to a brunette lady in her forties who drinks here occasionally.

'They appeared to be getting along well and were enjoying each others' company. There was another man in the bar who used to be in a relationship with this woman and he took exception to the mayor's advances.

'He told him to back off, words were said and they began pushing and shoving each other.

'A friend of the mayor's got involved and there may have been a few punches but I couldn't quite see.

'Both of them did not look as if they had suffered any serious injuries.

'Fighting is something I come down hard on.

'I will speak to the mayor about his behaviour and decide whether or not to bar him.'

The brunette, known only as Susanna, said: 'We were out on Friday having a few drinks and a laugh and it all went wrong.

'In the pushing and shoving I was knocked to the floor. The funny thing is I was the one that ended up injured out of all this.'

Police are still investigating but father-of-two Mr Fryers, who is separated, said: 'At this moment in time I am under advice not to say anything.

'Therefore I am not going to be making any comment.'

His estranged wife Marion said: 'I saw him and Susanna earlier that evening in one of the pubs.

'They have known each other for a while.

'Knowing Mike, he'd probably got too cosy with her because he was drunk.'

There have been calls for Mr Fryers to consider resigning.

Fellow councillor Mr Walker, an independent, said: 'If these allegations are true than his behaviour cannot be condoned and he'll have to resign from his post - he may have no option.'