shopkeeper Jan Henshall is furious after getting a 'telling off' by Dartmouth Town Council over an alleged incident involving a watering can, hanging baskets and a market stallholder.

Jeweller Miss Henshall has been accused of being 'immature' and told she should have known better after it was claimed she poured water over a neighbouring trader's stall during a town market day.

But Miss Henshall said she did not know what the council was talking about – and is demanding an apology after receiving a formal letter telling her to show some 'respect'.

Miss Henshall said: ' I am really angry at getting a letter accusing me of something that I don't even know anything about.

'I just don't know what they are talking about.'

Miss Henshall runs her jewellery business from a town council-owned shop in the Old Market in Dartmouth.

She is a veteran parish councillor in Kingswear and was a failed candidate for the Liberal Democrats in the May county council elections when she stood against her own parish council chairman, Conservative Jonathan Hawkins.

She received a letter from town clerk Chris Horan last week telling her: 'Your behaviour yesterday to one of the market tenants was totally unacceptable. This is not the first time you have acted in a very immature way and, as a councillor, you should know better.

'The trader concerned has done nothing to upset you so please do not make this personal.

'As you are aware, we recently moved the stalls which, if anything, has created a more accessible walkway for members of the public.

'Why you feel the need to act as you did is beyond me and all I ask you is please show some respect.'

Miss Henshall said that when she confronted Mr Horan at the town council offices she was told she had been accused of pouring water over a stallholder's goods.

She said: 'If something belonging to a trader got wet then it was accidental and I know nothing about it.'

She said she had certainly watered the hanging baskets outside her shop before going home on market day last week.

'I have no idea what they are talking about though,' she added. 'I can only assume that when I came by with a full watering can something slopped out but I was not aware of it.'

Town clerk Mr Horan said: 'The problem was brought to my attention. We had a complaint and we acted upon it.'