Mike Gardner, a council leader from Harrogate, has been photographed at a party dressed up as Adolf Hitler and performing the Nazi salute.

Tory councillor Mr Gardner has now been deselected after pictures of him at the fancy dress birthday bash were leaked onto the Internet via the social networking site, Facebook.

His colleagues in the Conservative party said his behaviour was "unacceptable" while Cllr Gardner claims he was the victim of a smear campaign....