Dover mayor Neil Rix now faces an investigation into his actions after footage emerged of him snorting a substance in a toilet cubicle.

Cllr Rix has referred himself to the council's monitoring officer as the fall-out from the scandal continues.

VIDEO: The Mayor faces investigation.

And Dover Town Council, which had earlier said it was standing by the mayor , has now issued another statement saying it takes the matter 'extremely seriously' and is seeking advice.

Cllr Rix was caught on camera snorting a substance in a toilet cubicle but has refused to resign, insisting it 'could have been sherbet.'

The footage, which you can watch below, was uploaded to YouTube last night.

When KentOnline broke the story last night, Cllr Rix said: "The video forms part of a police investigation into the fact I am being blackmailed.

"It did not happen recently. I was set up, pushed into it and coerced. Someone had put drugs into my beer and I did not know I was being filmed."

He said that he would not be resigning as 'it could have been sherbet, Vim or icing sugar.'

A Dover Town Council spokesman said this afternoon: "We are taking this matter very seriously and have asked the Kent Association of Local Councils for advice.

"The mayor has agreed to self-refer to the district council's monitoring office for a possible breach of the Code of Conduct.

"There may be a criminal investigation but that is a matter for the police."

The council had earlier put out a terse statement saying it was standing by the mayor, adding it would not let the video 'stand in the way of the work of the Mayor and Dover Town Council."

Kent Police spokesman Sally Smith said: “Kent Police is aware of media coverage of a video circulating online reportedly relating to drug use. Officers will be making enquiries to establish the circumstances of the footage.”

In response to Cllr Rix’s claims about being blackmailed Ms Smith said: “We would not be able to confirm nor deny . As per our policies we never release details on a named individual that may or may not be subject to a crime.”