DESPITE a two-month delay and some political wrangling two ex-Conservative councillors have been made honorary aldermen of the city.

Mr David Coe and Mrs Margaret Corley were awarded the the title at a meeting of the full council last week.

Mr Coe, formerly the Conservative leader and a councillor for Harpenden North, was given the honour in recognition of his 13 years of service.

And Mrs Corley was also recognised for her service as councillor of Redbourn and chairman of the village's commons committee.

The honorary title bestowed upon the two former councillors was originally planned for May.

But the recommendation was withdrawn following objections from Liberal Democrat members who claimed that proper procedures had not been followed.

Leader of the Conservative group, Councillor Paul Foster claimed at the time that the objections were part of a tit-for-tat campaign between the two parties.

He said: 'It was either a spiteful or politically motivated act.'