An aggressive councillor who left a young employee in tears has been publicly ordered to write an apology.

Jane Chitty, 68, was last night told to say sorry after an independent committee ignored the advice of an investigating solicitor that it was a minor offence.

Cllr Chitty, pictured right, had earlier accepted she broke rules for public officials when she had an argument with Laura Steward.

Janet Gray, chairman of Medway Standards Committee, said: "The committee has taken into account Mrs Chitty has not apologised for her conduct and does not appear to have accepted she was at fault.

"We do not consider it is acceptable for councillors to be rude towards staff or treat them with disrespect."

The committee accepted the findings of the independent investigator, Duncan Milne, that the conservative councillor was not a bully and gave her seven days to carry out the order.

Laura Steward was Labour political officer at the time of the incident, in which she was left in tears after being shouted at by Cllr Chitty in the entrance to the council's headquarters at Gun Wharf, Chatham.

During a 40-minute response to the complaint, Cllr Chitty accused Labour of targeting her and mobbing her at public meetings.

She was recently cleared of allegations brought by the Labour leader, Cllr Paul Godwin, of using a false address at the last elections, and faces further investigations over her recent visit to China.