MEMBERS of the Troon Community Council are furious after they felt they were accused of rigging the Civic Awards at the RNLI AGM.

The issue was raised at the meeting on March 30 earlier this year where chairwoman Helen Duff of the community council was attending as a member of the public.

Addressing the council at a recent meeting she said: "They said they believed the ballot to be a fix and asked for me to cancel the event.

"It made me feel as though they were saying our winner [Peter Sincock] was not worthy of the award and I felt this small." She demonstrated using her thumb and index finger.

A letter was sent to the RNLI challenging these accusation and the reply was read out to members which said the RNLI was surprised TCC had written with this concern and that they regretted them having to do this.

Chairwoman Helen Duff later told the Troon Times: "I still have all the paper work and the ballot. It was like they did not trust how we were running the voting system but we go by the book of South Ayrshire Council.

"If I am ever unsure I just check with the council. I have always done everything by the book but I felt as though I was being told I was doing something wrong and I was not being trusted. 

"Because I had just taken over as chairwoman last year I am doing my best to please everyone. That said we are a small minority and I have a lot of confidence in my fellow community councillors and their support.

"Sometimes I do not think people realise how much work goes into organising an event like that."

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: "The appointment of Troon’s Citizen of the Year is organised by the town’s Community Council and therefore the way in which the appointment is made has nothing to do with the RNLI."