Leek's Mayor has called for action to be taken against street preachers spreading "hateful" rhetoric in Leek town centre.

The Mayor of Leek and District Councillor for Leek West Councillor Bill Cawley is putting forward a motion at next month's Staffordshire Moorlands District Council meeting regarding the street preachers who frequently address residents and visitors to Leek.

Cllr Cawley has previously confronted the preachers on their comments, which he called "homophobic" and "misogynistic".

He said: "In late summer I had occasion to speak to them for calling out women who had abortions as 'murderers' and at the beginning of November I was appalled to hear homophobic comments which again I confronted them about. One of them responded by waving a bible at me, stating that the book gave him all the authority he needed."

Cllr Cawley also noted that he had received many messages and comments on social media about the preachers, with residents expressing outrage about the way the preachers approach passers-by and the nature of their comments. He added that some have also expressed that young women in particular could find their comments offensive and upsetting.

The councillor has even gone as far as to describe the preachers as "The Derby Street Taliban".

Councillor Cawley's upcoming motion to the council reads:

"The Council notes the widespread dismay caused to residents of Leek by the activities of the street preachers.

"It agrees that there is no place for the utterance in public spaces of homophobic or misogynistic comments which residents have been subject to for some time.

"The motion believes that residents are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Hateful comments have no place in our community.

"SMDC will work with the police and other community safety partners, Staffordshire County Council and town and parish councils to challenge and prevent such behaviour.

"SMDC wishes to assure all its residents and visitors that they are valued members of the community."

Cllr Cawley added: "I have researched the topic and found that this sort of incident has been reported by other councils around the country who have used existing public order legislation to address the problem. I am not opposed to them preaching, but their presence in one particular area of Derby Street is being complained about by shop owners. There is also the loudness of the public address system they are using which is very intrusive which was certainly the case last week.

"I note that SMDC use Public Space Protection Orders at the Bus Station against unruly teenagers with one prohibited action being behaving in a way that causes distress to others, which is exactly the case with these middle-aged men."