The leader of Shropshire’s Labour group has called on has Lib Dem counterpart to apologise for making a formal complaint about a grieving councillor’s attendance which saw her temporarily removed from the council this week.

In a leaked email, Councillor Alan Mosley has called the situation surrounding Councillor Jane Mackenzie a “depressing farce” and asked Councillor Roger Evans, who made the complaint, to say sorry.

In the email to Councillor Evans, which was also sent to all Shropshire Council members, Councillor Mosley said he was “angry” about the situation.

Councillor Mackenzie was removed on Monday after a formal complaint was made about her attendance.

She was struck off having not attended a meeting for six months, during which time she was caring for her terminally-ill daughter Amy, who died in June.

But it was discovered on Tuesday that she had attended an external meeting and was reinstated.

A leaked email from council chief executive Clive Wright on Wednesday revealed Councillor Evans was the source of the complaint.

In the email, Councillor Mosley said: “I was very, very angry when I read Clive Wright’s account of the depressing farce surrounding the attendance controversy.

“A particular factor is that if it was you who demanded the officer actions.

“Your account confirms this except you claim to have been merely a conduit for, rather than the instigator, of the complaint.

“In my view this in no way absolves you of responsibility.

“You must have been aware of Jane’s tragic circumstances in recent times and hence, in her case at least, you should have known those circumstances as being the reason for any lack of attendance.

“A word or message to her would have been appropriate and would have prevented her from having to endure the further distress that the events have put her through.

“You may want to consider an apology for your part in that.

“I have never met Claire Aspinall but, despite our obvious significant political differences, I do believe that Nic Laurens is worthy of some respect.

“I am still angry but it may be better to speak before I further consider making more public comment.”

Councillor Aspinall’s attendance was also complained about but it was found she had attended sufficient meetings.

Councillor Laurens was also the subject of a complaint but he too had evidence of attending a meeting. He resigned his position on Monday.

Councillor Evans has not responded to several requests for comment.