A council meeting descended into chaos after pro-Palestine protesters staged a demonstration before a scuffle erupted.
A group of campaigners disrupted the meeting of Chorley Council calling for a debate on a motion for a Gaza ceasefire.
They held up signs and chanted “free, free Palestine” in the protest at Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s local council on Tuesday evening.
Jenny Hurley, a pro-Palestine campaigner with the Chorley for Palestine group, shouted: “Why has no motion been put to this chamber?
“We were told that they would be happy, the Labour group would be happy to put a motion to this chamber? Why has that not happened?”
Conservative councillor Craige Southern replied: “Because it’s Chorley, not bloody Gaza. Get out, go on!”
A scuffle broke out as he attempted to remove Ms Hurley, who was holding a Palestine flag, from the room.
One man, who appeared to be another protester, said to Mr Southern: “Don’t touch her. Get your hands off her.”
The heated scenes came as councillors had gathered to sign off the budget.
Lancashire Police said it had launched an investigation into the incident.
A spokesman said: “We have received a complaint of an assault at an event in Chorley yesterday evening [February 27] and an investigation is underway. No arrests have been made at this stage and enquiries are ongoing.”
It comes amid heightened concerns for the safety of MPs after months of tensions over Palestine protests.
There were chaotic scenes in Parliament last week when Sir Lindsay bent the rules over a Gaza vote, which he insisted was driven by fears for MPs.
