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A controversial road closure scheme in the centre of Cheltenham will remain in place despite a campaign calling for it to be scrapped.

The section of Clarence Street, known locally as Boots Corner, has been closed to private vehicles since June

Nearly 6,000 people signed a petition against the scheme which triggered a borough council debate.

However, councillors have voted against reopening the road.

The meeting at Cheltenham Municipal Offices was disrupted by angry remarks and shouts from people in the public gallery.

A member of the public shouted to Mayor Bernard Fisher to "retire and get off the council" after he asked people in the gallery to be quiet.

Mayor Fisher called for a 10 minute break and told members of the public to "calm down" or they would be removed from the meeting.

He was later booed when he said: "In all my 12 years as a councillor I have never seen behaviour like this".

'Detrimental impact'

Conservative councillor Tim Harman, who organised the 5,885-strong petition with the town's Conservative MP Alex Chalk, said: "This is the single biggest petition the council has ever received."

Mr Harman said the road closure had had "a detrimental impact" on local retail trade, adding: "I think this is the most controversial scheme that Cheltenham has ever faced."

Councillors eventually voted against reopening the road to general traffic and against having a public meeting on the trial closure.

Cheltenham is one of 33 areas in England with levels of air pollution that breach European Union targets.