THURROCK’s mayor has cast doubt on the future of three councillors involved in the Castle Point shenanigans saying her “office has been brought into disrepute”.

Mayor Anne Cheale publically apologised for the first time for the behaviour of former deputy mayor Eddie Hardiman and his young colleagues Danny Nicklen and James Halden at a civic event in Canvey that went wrong.

Cllr Hardiman resigned as deputy mayor last week and he and cllr Nicklen were suspended after allegations that wine was taken from a Castle Point Council fireworks do- and they were then thrown out of the Catcracker pub in Corringham.

Cllr Cheale said at the meeting: “I am sorry to say that three councillors have recently brought this office into disrepute.

“I would like to make a full apology to the chamber and to the public for the events that were not consistent with the high standards expected of the mayoral office.

“It can only expected that the behaviour of the three councillors may well throw their future into doubt . Time will tell.”

Cllr Hardiman was not present at the meeting, but his Tory colleagues cllrs Nicklen and Halden did turn up.