SENIOR Tory Dennis Willetts has apologised for reversing into former Labour mayor’s Julie Young’s car, causing £1,000 of damage - but says she shouldn’t have parked where she did in the first place.

The incident took place in the members’ car park at the back of Colchester Town Hall.

Council insiders had accused Conservative boss Mr Willetts of “clearly knowing” he had caused the damage before driving off but the group leader has refuted the allegations.

But having been invited into the town hall to watch the incident on the council’s state-of-the-art CCTV, he acknowledged it showed Mrs Young’s white Fiat 500 “tremor” when his blue Suzuki Swift struck the driver’s door.

Mr Willetts said: “She parked in a very stupid place but that doesn’t absolve me of responsibility.

“I had parked in a spot near to the Signals building and behind me was a cross-hatching area which really shouldn’t have any cars parked in it.

“But when I came out of the building, a white car - which I now know to be councillor Young’s - was parked in it, making it very difficult to get out.

Gazette: Colchester Mayor Julie Young officially reopening the Priory Street Car Park after it's update. Pictured with (from left) Simon High senior engineer and Matthew Young Head of Operational Services.

Ticked off - the incident caused £1,000 worth of damage to Julie Young's car

“My immediate concern was the car beside me and I was doing my damnedest to make sure I didn’t hit it.

“I had no idea I had damaged her car.

“Upon checking my own vehicle, there is no more than a scuff on my bumper.”

Mrs Young sent an email to all councillors the morning after the incident, asking for the owner of “a blue car” parked near hers to come forward.

Mr Willetts replied but said he had no recollection of damaging the former mayor’s car.

The Tory group leader was then invited into the town hall to view CCTV footage.

He added: “There is no escaping it. It is on TV for us all to see and her car can be seen to tremor when my car strikes it. The insurers asked if I would like to make an issue out of where she was parked, which I had half a mind to do, but I decided against it.

“It was my car which was moving - it’s my fault.”

In is understood the damage to Mrs Young’s car will cost about £1,000 to repair.

When contacted by the Gazette, Julie Young said: “It is in the hands of the insurers now so I don’t want to say much more.

“I’m sure councillor Willetts would rather it hadn’t happened.”