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A Labour mayor has been accused of disrespecting Remembrance after editing a Tory rival out of a photo of a wreath-laying ceremony. Bridgwater mayor Leigh Redman is facing calls to quit after the doctored image, with Conservative councillor Diogo Rodrigues airbrushed out, was fired off to the press.

The row has exploded on Armistice Day, as the nation falls silent to honour its war dead. Mr Rodrigues had given up his own time to volunteer for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal this year. The furious councillor, who leads the Conservative opposition on Somerset Council, branded the stunt “low and disrespectful”.

Speaking to the Daily Express, he said it “was politically motivated” and “really stupid”. The image, pictured, was emailed out as a press release with the Tory councillor mysteriously removed, before being splashed across social media.

Mr Rodrigues, who also sits on Bridgwater Town Council, lodged a complaint after spotting that he had been erased from the event. He said: “The mayor has apologised, in a post on Facebook, but I do not think that is good enough.

“It’s so disrespectful, he should consider resigning, because of his lack of respect for the town.” But Mr Redman’s mealy-mouthed Facebook statement apologised only for “any offence and upset caused”, and stopped short of saying sorry for doctoring the image.

He wrote: “I apologise for any offence and upset caused to Cllr Rodrigues by a photograph shared following Remembrance Sunday. I recognise the importance of the occasion and regret that the post has become a distraction for what should be a day of remembrance and respect.”

It is not the first time a Labour figure has been caught out over a faked military photo. Last year, the disgraced former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, sacked over vile WhatsApp messages, admitted posting a fake photo of himself at an Armed Forces Day event, after a Tory councillor accused him of photoshopping himself into the picture.

The Bridgwater row comes as communities across Britain gathered at war memorials for Remembrance to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for their country.