A police investigation has been launched after a council boss was involved in a street fracas with another councillor.

It comes after a row broke out between the Test Valley council leader Ian Carr and Hampshire county councillor Tony Hooke.

The pair were at an event to promote Andover town centre when the incident happened.

Police were called to a report of an alleged assault and allegations that Cllr Carr launched a foul mouth tirade at former UKIP Cllr Mr Hooke, who is now an independent.

Business owners and fellow councillors had to step in to part the pair during the incident in Andover High Street shortly after 12 noon.

Councillor Carr is the Conservative leader of Test Valley Borough Council which covers Andover, Stockbridge and Romsey and borders Southampton.

He denied swearing or punching Cllr Hooke but did admit calling him “the biggest ****hole” in Andover.

Cllr Carr said: “He’s been lying about what I said, he’s been lying about what I did and in deliberate act to intimidate me in the middle of town.

“I did call him the biggest ****hole in town but everything else that was said wasn’t true.

“I didn’t double punch him, I pushed him away to get him out of my face.

“Me and my family have had four years of abuse and it got the better of me today after a difficult few days due to personal circumstances.”

Meanwhile Councillor Hooke has described the alleged incident as an “unprovoked attack”.

He said: “This incredible behaviour was completely unprovoked and should not go unchallenged. “Because he was not getting his own way resorted to violence.

“He must now stand down as leader of Test Valley Borough Council, he cannot carry on with any credibility.

“We cannot have elected borough councillors acting in this way. “We have a duty to set a moral standard and he has fallen well below that. Violence is violence and cannot be tolerated.”

One witness to the incident was Andover Town Council chairman, Katherine Bird.

She said: “ I saw it all, I was standing right next to them.

“I saw Tony and a couple of people go up to Ian and I heard them call him.

“I saw Ian hold his hand out and said ‘I don’t want to talk to you and I don’t want to have anything to do with you, you’ve made four years of my life hell.’ “He turned to walk away and then Tony carried on right next to him, sort of in his face, and said ‘I just want, I just want’ and was right up close to Ian – he was right in his face.

“Ian held out his hands, he was two foot away, and pushed him.

“He certainly didn’t hit him, I don’t think was appropriate or the right thing but he didn’t hit him.”

Police have confirmed they are investigating.

A spokesperson said: “Police were called at 12.20pm today to reports of a man having been assaulted on the High Street, Andover.

“The incident is reported to have taken place at around 12.10pm the same afternoon.

“No serious injuries have been reported.

“Officers are investigating the exact circumstances.”

The Advertiser has contacted Test Valley Borough Council, but the authority declined to comment.