A Somerset councillor has sparked fury after being accused of staging "an orchestrated coup" to merge two parishes — insisting he was "entitled to go off and try it".

Castle Cary and neighbouring Ansford could soon be combined into a single parish council under a governance review launched by Somerset Council. Residents have until December 8 to say whether the two communities should officially unite.

But the review has set off a row after it emerged the process wasn't started by either council — but by local councillor Henry Hobhouse, who gathered enough signatures himself to trigger it.

Mr Hobhouse said he went "door to door" to collect more than 230 signatures in each parish, enough to force Somerset Council to look at a merger. "The decision to do that is mine alone," he said. "I'm quite entitled to go off and try and join two councils that are fighting if I wish to do so."

Critics, though, say the move is nothing short of a takeover.

Castle Cary resident Dorian Wood branded it "an orchestrated coup" and "a conquest of Ansford", accusing the councillor of assembling "a rigged petition".

He said: "Of course, a larger authority like Castle Cary can outbid Ansford, as Castle Cary has many more people. The whole thing is a conquest of Ansford and not remotely democratic."

Robert Brown, who sits on Castle Cary Town Council, said there was "considerable disquiet" about how the review came about. "The petition was put forward by unitary councillor Henry Hobhouse without any knowledge of the two councils," he said. "The petitions were not put forward by the two councils."

But fellow councillor Kevin Messenger said both councils had discussed the idea for some time. "I attended a Castle Cary meeting where they voted in favour of both councils being united," he said. "However, the feeling I get from Ansford is that they're not so happy."

He added: "I've been asked many times by residents of both parishes why we haven't got one council as we share all the amenities. I think it's time for residents to have their say."

Ansford Parish said an independent report has been commissioned to look at the implications of any merger.

A spokesperson said residents should "do their research before completing any online consultation".

If approved, the new 'Ansford and Castle Cary Parish Council' would have 11 councillors, with the name to be agreed later.

Formal proposals are expected to come back in early 2026, with any changes taking effect in time for the local elections in May 2027.

Residents can take part in the consultation at somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com until December 8.

Reporting: Daniel Mumby.