BOLTON'S deputy mayor Cllr Prentice Howarth has been accused of vandalising a neighbour's car.

Jason Morrison, who lives next door in Halliwell Road, claims to have captured film of Cllr Howarth on CCTV scratching a key along the paintwork of his black Citroen Picasso.

The film has been handed to the Bolton Evening News and the police, who are investigating the alleged incident.

But Cllr Howarth, who retired as the Mayor of Bolton when she handed over the chain to Cllr Frank White last month, denied the claims, saying one of her rings accidentally touched the car as she walked past last Wednesday at around 10.30pm.

The CCTV footage shows Cllr Howarth crossing the road and walking closely alongside the car. As she does so her hand appears to touch the vehicle.

Minutes later Mr Morrison - who claims to have seen the incident from the windows of his home - is seen running into the street to confront her.

Martial arts instructor Mr Morrison, aged 34, says he fitted CCTV cameras to the front of his home after his car was scratched on a number of previous occasions although these incidents are not being linked to Cllr Howarth.

Mr Morrison, who lives with his wife Sharon, aged 32, son Lewis, aged 14, and daughter Leasha, aged 12, is waiting for an estimate for the damage to the car, which was recently resprayed with the logo of his company Rekonize, suppliers of martial arts equipment.

He said: "My mum phoned to remind me to move the car from the roadside and as I looked out of the window I saw her scratching the back of my car as she walked past.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I didn't think she was capable of this.

"We have never really got along with Prentice but there have never been any incidents between us before. I am furious and flabbergasted."

In 2004, Cllr Howarth became the first woman to become mayor of Bolton for 20 years. She was first elected to the old County Borough council in 1971 for Tonge and represented the Burnden and Great Lever wards following a spell out of politics after the death of her husband Brian.

She is a former vice-chairman of the social services committee and chairman of the planning committee.

Cllr Howarth claims she was holding her skirt in her hand as she walked past the car and accidentally caught it on the paintwork.

She added: "I thought I had ripped my skirt on a gatepost so I was holding it in one hand and I had my council papers in the other.

"As I was right up to the car, I heard my ring touch it. The next thing Mr Morrison was out in the street making accusations.

"I have not spoken to him since the incident because I just want to get on with my life."

Cllr Howarth, who has lived in the large two-storey terraced building for more than 30 years, said their relationship had been marred by a series of rows since Mr Morrison moved in 1998.

She said: "From the first minute he moved in, it has been a nightmare. There have been problems with noise and a lot of other issues."

But Mr Morrison added: "When I first confronted her, Prentice denied touching the car altogether and has never admitted to me that she even scratched it.

"She is trying to make out that we are bad neighbours but that isn't true."

A spokesman for Bolton police said: "We are investigating a report of criminal damage on Halliwell Road at around 10.30pm on Wednesday, June 22."