DISGRACED councillor Hugh Pritchard has been expelled from Fareham's Lib Dem group following a unanimous vote by his party colleagues.

But the 67-year-old, pictured above, today remains a councillor for Fareham South.

He has so far refused to hand in his resignation after he admitted defrauding the council.

At last night's meeting behind closed doors in Henry Cort School, fellow party members voted the councillor out for bringing the party into disrepute.

In his first interview since Pritchard's fraud scandal came to light Lib Dem Leader Councillor Roger Price said: "The issue was that he had brought the party into disrepute. It's as simple as that.

"As far as we are concerned that is the end of the story. I think the issue should die now. I don't know all the facts about what happened but I am sorry that it did.

"Cllr Pritchard has done a lot of good work for the council and still does."

A statement for the Lib Dem group said: "It has been agreed that his (Pritchard's) membership of the group should be terminated forthwith.

"The group views this matter very seriously."

Cllr Pritchard, of Holly Hill Mansions, Sarisbury, was last week fined £300 by Fareham magistrates after falsely claiming £1,251.65 in council and housing tax benefits.

On two occasions he completed a benefit form, each time claiming his only income derived from council duties and his state pension.

On the form he failed to declare two separate pensions he was receiving. He has since paid back the money to the council.

The former prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate has kept up his wall of silence refusing to comment about the scandal.

The father-of-four who first entered local politics in 1965 would not answer the door to his home this morning or return any calls from the Daily Echo.

Fareham council's executive leader Cllr Sean Woodward called for him to resign.

"I am pleased the Lib Dems have made a decision at last. Now I hope they will join me in reporting him to the Standards Board for England."

Cllr Woodward said the saga had tarnished the image of Fareham council.

"It is a very sad episode in the history of Fareham council. The sooner it's brought to a conclusion the better.

"Now, in the immediate future, only Hugh Pritchard can do that by resigning."