Six police officers were sent to arrest a pensioner following accusations of harassment against Faversham Town Council.

John Wellard was about to begin celebrations for his 71 birthday on Friday morning when the officers knocked at his door in Waterside Close, Faversham.

Allegations against Mr Wellard, who is computer illiterate, suggested he had sent brown envelopes with foreign currency and satirical posters poking fun of the politicians to members of the council.

But he refused to comment during two hours of questioning at Sittingbourne police station and was later released without charge.

Mr Wellard, a former Monty Python cameraman, said: “There was a knock on the door and there stood six police officers.

"For a second I thought it was some elaborate strippergram.

“They told me they would search the house and I was taken to the police station for questioning.

"I feel almost flattered that I would be thought of as such a threat to the fabric of law and order that they should see fit to send six coppers round to arrest a pensioner with no criminal record, in his dressing gown.

"The police who were there were courteous and considerate. I do not believe they were fully informed about the situation."

“I stayed silent throughout the entire interview. They showed me documents and asked whether I was responsible. They asked me whether I knew certain councillors and if I knew where they lived.

“I was puzzled to be asked about one councillor receiving brown envelopes as at a town council public meeting last month he had alleged another member of the public had sent them.”

In January, brown envelopes with foreign currency were posted through the letterboxes of some town councillors following a bribery accusation.

The allegation was made during a public meeting about the town's Faversham Creek, which is an ongoing contentious issue between maritime campaigners and the council.

Cllr Cindy Davis, who will stand down from Faversham Town Council after more than 18 years in May, said at the time she felt personally victimised by the delivery.

In May last year, posters were also plastered around the town condemning the work of a town council committee, and a number of other posters have since appeared and reportedly been sent directly to councillors.

“Satire and lampooning have been at the very centre of British political life for centuries, so I don’t think this merits police action..." - John Wellard

Town council clerk Jackie Westlake declined to comment at this stage.

But Mr Wellard believes that legal action is an “overreaction” for whoever is to blame for the posters and currency.

He said: “I wasn’t as terrified as I think I ought to have been on Friday but I think it was just a very sad reflection on the nature of politics today.

“Satire and lampooning have been at the very centre of British political life for centuries, so I don’t think this merits police action.

“Does David Cameron call out the cops every time he’s portrayed in a cartoon with a condom on his head or his Y-fronts over his clothes? I just think this whole thing is a complete overreaction.”

Police spokesman Glenn Pearson said: “Officers from Kent Police have been investigating reports of collective harassment relating to members of Faversham Town Council.

“It was alleged they had received brown envelopes with fake money and other cards sent to their addresses.

“As a result of those enquiries, officers attended an address in Waterside Close on Friday, April 24, to speak with a man in connection with the incident and carry out searches of the property if permitted.

“A 71-year-old man attended a police station voluntarily and was interviewed under caution. The investigation is ongoing.”