The chairman of the local Conservatives in the Cotswolds, where the largest town is Cirencester, says she's been forced to quit her post because of 'bullying'.

Diana MacKenzie-Charrington claimed in a leaked letter that a 'tiny but very senior long-standing minority' were guilty of 'venal behaviours', according to a report in the Mail.

The letter sent to 1,200 members of the Cotswolds Conservative Association claimed the behaviour was serious enough to warrant an investigation.

According to the report, the letter states: 'Many of you witnessed for yourselves at the recent annual general meeting the level of toxicity and unpleasantness that has so sadly now permeated our association.

'It is my very firm opinion that this toxicity, which has on occasion amounted to outright bullying of me and others, has no place in this or any political party.

'However, it is also the case that I cannot in good conscience continue to serve in an organisation which has been infected at the very top with such venal behaviours.'

Mrs MacKenzie-Charrington told Punchline Gloucester she had no comment.

The MP for the Cotswolds constituency - a safe Tory seat - is Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown who has been an MP in the area since 1992.

The Mail reports that Mrs MacKenzie-Charrington is a former fashion consultant and a company director.

The leak comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces allegations of blackmail threats against those MPs who called for his resignation over lockdown-breaking parties at No 10.

The Cotswold Conservative Association also declined to comment when approached by Punchline Gloucester.

There was no response from Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.