A MASSIVE split in the management of a community centre resulted in the police being called.

The action follows a decision taken by four of the seven trustees at the Mosses Community Association Ltd to serve a suspension notice on the centre manager.

On Wednesday, February 13, Anne McGladdery received a letter of suspension of employment, pending investigation.

It stated: "You will be suspended from employment for seven days as of February 14. You should not report to work, do any work or communicate with other employees at the Mosses Community Association Ltd."

However, Miss McGladdery said she had been issued "an illegal letter" and consequently continued attending work as normal.

Greater Manchester Police said they reveived a report of a woman refusing to leave a building in Cecil Street, Bury, at lunchtime today.

An emergency general meeting (EGM) has been called at 6.30pm on March 5, with the aim of calling for a resolution to remove the four trustees supporting the suspension notice, namely acting chairman Brent-James Pinder, Cllr Annette McKay, Cllr Stella Smith and John Pearcey.

At lunchtime today, Mr Pinder, Cllr McKay and Cllr Smith attended the centre.

Miss McGladdery said she felt it was "like a siege".

She said: "The trustees have attempted to suspend me with an illegal letter. They have not followed charity law or our company law.

"They have tried to remove me from the building. They are stood outside trying to get in. It is like a siege.

"I am devastated. It is intimidating. I phoned the police but they said it is a civil matter."

Acting chairman Mr Pinder was joined by Cllr McKay and Cllr Smith outside the Mosses Centre at about 1pm today. Mr Pinder took the decision to call the police.

Cllr Smith said: "We are following proper procedure in the policy of the Mosses Centre. We tried to arrange an informal meeting but the centre manager did not allow that to happen. That is why we did not give notice. We had to go straight to suspension. She has not accepted that suspension so she has not accepted our authority as trustees."

Miss McGladdery said the suspension notice related to an incident that occurred about one month ago.

"There was a meeting and I lost my head", she said. "They said I was being aggressive.

"If they remove me from the building, all this work will stop."

The Mosses Centre is used by between 700 and 800 people every week, and home to more than 30 community groups.

The site is closed for two weeks while a new kitchen and training centre are built.

Cllr Smith said: "The building work that is being carried out is quite substantial but there are other members of staff who could step up.

"Miss McGladdery is still entering the building and that is a breach of the suspension.

"We should have been able to have a proper discussion with her and possibly averted this state of affairs."

Cllr McKay added: "This is a very difficult, sensitive situation. We are trying to deal with it in a fair, honest and transparent way for everyone's sake."