No criminal action will be taken against a Kent mayor filmed snorting a substance in a toilet cubicle.

Dover mayor Neil Rix was caught on camera snorting white powder off a cistern, but refused to resign claiming 'it could have been sherbet.'

Today police spokesman Nicola Forman said: “On Tuesday July 19, we were made aware of media coverage of a video circulating online reportedly relating to the illegal use of drugs.

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“Officers have carried out extensive inquiries into the circumstances of the footage and the investigation has now concluded with no offences being confirmed.

“A man has been advised there will be no further police action in the matter.”

The film had been seen circulating widely on social media on August 30 but other media reports on the row had come out as early as mid-July.

VIDEO: No criminal action will be taken.

The mayor has not resigned and Dover Town Council has said it is standing by him.

The stance comes despite a call from the town council's Labour group for independent councillor Neil Rix to consider his position after the footage was uploaded to YouTube.

He was elected mayor in April this year by a casting vote and said at the time: "I want to bring Dover on a bit and try and make everyone work together and make Dover a better place - that’s the idea of it all."