POLICE have launched an investigation after a county councillor claimed she was "almost knocked to the ground" by Surrey County Council leader David Hodge during a peaceful protest outside County Hall, in Kingston, on October 21.

Councillor Sheila Carlson – a full-time officer for the GMB union's southern branch – and GMB regional organiser Frank Minal both lodged a formal complaint with the council.

Together with a group of 12 union colleagues, which included three members of the trade union Unison, she was protesting against Surrey's proposed closures of six residential care homes.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.