A COUNCILLOR has been branded a "disgrace" after he suggested a move to honour the Royal Air Force was simply a public relations stunt.

Plaid Cymru councillor Marc Jones accused colleagues of "glorifying war" as Wrexham Council moved a step closer towards granting Honorary Freedom of the County Borough to the RAF.

The intention is to honour the men and women of the RAF and the impact they had on the community in and around Wrexham during the First and Second World Wars.

Bur Cllr Jones said he would prefer to see the money be spent on other ways of supporting the armed services, particularly on former servicemen and women who have found themselves on the streets.

He told a full council meeting at the Guildhall: "We should be concentrating on mental health for former servicemen and women.

"We shouldn't be glorifying war. We should be stopping war."

Cllr Jones' remarks incensed council leader Mark Pritchard (Ind) with his PR stunt remark who responded: "I think that the elected member is a disgrace to stand there and say that.

"We can never do enough for the services.

"The truth is many of them never come back from war so I would be happy to honour them in any way we can.

"We are asking the people of Wrexham to celebrate the RAF and I shall leave it at that."

Cllr Pritchard had seconded a motion from Cllr David Griffiths (Ind), Armed Forces champion for Wrexham Council, who proposed that the honour be granted.

He said: "This is about recognising the RAF's contribution.Wrexham has many pertinent connections to the RAF.

"The council wants to formally recognise the RAF and we will plan an event in the summer."

Cllr David A Bithell (Ind) was also supportive of the move, saying: "This council has signed an Armed Forces covenant.

"We've come here to support the armed forces and what is wrong with that. I think we should support the report in good faith."

In the end the council voted in favour of the vote, with 37 voting for and three members abstaining.