A RUMPUS broke out in Blackburn council chamber as an asbestos protester tried to deliver a "Christmas present."

Protester Tom Howard, accompanied by a man in a Father Christmas outfit, tried to empty a bag of polystyrene over council leader Frank Higham after telling him it was a gift from the Shadsworth Deck Access Flats Community Association.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.