THE DEPUTY Mayor of a Hampshire town has been arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill someone.

Andover Town Council member Cllr Lauren Banville was arrested after travelling to an address in Portsmouth on Wednesday morning.

Another woman, aged 61 and also from Andover, was also arrested.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We were called at 11.36am today (January 20) to an address on Gladys Avenue, Portsmouth, after reports of a disturbance at an address.

“A 61-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman, both from Andover, were arrested on suspicion of violence to secure entry and threats to kill.

“They remain in custody at this time.”

Cllr Banville, who won election to Andover Town Council in 2019 as part of the Andover Alliance, stood down from the party after a high-profile split from mayor Richard Rawles.

She now stands as an independent and represents the Harroway ward.

It was reported last year how Cllr Banville’s application to join the Conservative party was rejected, due to her “views and past history”.

Cllr Banville had previously been a member of the Labour party, serving as vice chair of Andover and North West Hampshire Labour.

However she left the party in June 2018 after defending EDL co-founder Tommy Robinson on social media following his arrest a month prior for contempt of court.

Cllr Banville has been contacted for comment.