'Too drunk to speak' ... then Mayor quits on health grounds

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Residents' Association councillor Alan Winkworth, mayor of Epsom and Ewell, announced he was standing down for a month after two formal complaints were made of his being drunk in public office. Onlookers called his behaviour "embarrassing".

He was said to have turned up drunk to a full council meeting and an official party to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Playhouse theatre in Epsom last Friday - when his speech was said by guests to be "incoherent".

Mr Winkworth, who is married and has two sons, has denied the claims but said he was stepping down because of "ill health". The archery enthusiast who is chairman of the Surrey Bowmen and has been on the council for the past decade, added: "I always have trouble with my words - my mind works too fast and my speech has to catch up."

Tory councillor Sean Sullivan, who made an official complaint in writing to council chief executive Frances Rutter, said: "I think it's embarrassing to have the first citizen of the borough behaving in that way."

Mr Sullivan added: "I attended the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Playhouse on Friday evening.

"The mayor made a speech, from a balcony He was, once again, drunk.

"The situation was embarrassing and I believe brings our council into disrepute. Taken with the mayor's drunken behaviour at December's full council meeting I once again want to formally complain about the mayor's behaviour."

A council spokesman said: "Following continued ill health since the Christmas and New Year period the mayor, Councillor Winkworth, has taken the decision that it would be in the borough's best interests for him to take an extended period of rest."