Following the blog entries by Cllr Blakeley, Cllr Taylor instructed Merseyside-based Kirwans Solicitors to act on his behalf, resulting in Cllr Blakeley apologising and agreeing to pay damages and costs totalling £7,000.

In his apology, which has been published on his website, Cllr Blakeley said he apologised “unreservedly for the hurt and injury caused” to Cllr Taylor as a result of the contents of the blog entries.

Cllr Blakeley said he now realised they “were wrong, ill-conceived and without any foundation and truthfulness and which I recognise have caused serious hurt and injury to his personal and political reputation”.

Cllr Taylor was unavailable for comment, but Michael Sandys, partner with Kirwans Solicitors and head of the firm’s political libel unit, said: “Our client’s reputation was seriously undermined and damaged as a result of the blogs.

“Our client is held in high regard in Wirral and was naturally deeply upset and angered by the baseless and libellous allegations levelled against him.”

Last night, Leasowe Conservative councillor Ian Lewis said: “I am surprised that Cllr Alan Taylor, as a local politician, sought the protection of legal action.

“Most councillors I know understand the 'rough and tumble' of local politics and would never dream of pursuing a legal case because of an insult we have received.

“Cllr Blakeley is a hard-working and effective councillor and a champion of issues in Moreton and Saughall Massie.

“He has the full support and confidence of the Conservative Party and we very much hope this case will not deter him from further scrutiny of the Labour and Liberal Democrat administration.”