The Sheriff of Oxford, city councillor Susanna Pressel, has been blackballed and booted out of her pool league for forfeiting a game.

Trouble started when the Jericho and Osney Labour councillor, captain of the Great Western Railway Staff Association B team - also known as the Railway Club - refused to play a fixture against rivals The Kite pub.

Ms Pressel was barred from the Mill Street pub earlier this year for talking about politics too much and, as a result, claimed it was impossible to honour the fixture.

And in protest at being unable to play the fixture, Ms Pressel and her team effectively abandoned the match, which was a punishable offence.

The situation has caused chaos for the Oxford Mile Invitation Pool League.

After a unanimous vote by committee, members decided to discipline Ms Pressel's team with immediate expulsion. Ms Pressel, who has been playing pool for 10 years, said the decision was embarrassing and unfair - and she would appeal.

She has seven days in which to appeal to the league, in writing.

League secretary Malcolm Lewis said: "She refused to send a team to The Kite. For whatever reason, the landlord has banned her from the pub. And because she has been barred she refused to send a team.

"We sat in emergency session and unanimously decided to exclude the team from the league. All points will be deducted - this has never happened in our league before."

However, there might be more misery for Ms Pressel's team come the league's AGM next month, when a vote will decide whether the Railway Club is readmitted to the league next season. Ms Pressel said: "It's really embarrassing and I am going to appeal. The landlord (of The Kite) barred me earlier this year.

"That meant I couldn't go and play matches in that pub and other members of my team didn't want to. I think it's really unfair."

Ms Pressel, a talented pool player who represents Oxfordshire, is well known at the Town Hall and beyond for her forthright manner.

She was first elected in 1996 and earlier this year became Sheriff, a civic office with largely ceremonial duties.

Pete McGarry, landlord of The Kite, said: "There's no way I want the woman here."