A FORMER Worcester Mayor is embroiled in a fresh spat with the city's twinning association - after claiming they should pay to use the Guildhall.

Councillor Alan Amos - who once made national headlines by suggesting Worcester should 'twin' with war-torn Gaza City - says the volunteer-led body should cough up cash to rent space inside the building.

The association, which seeks to link Worcester to towns and cities in other nations for the benefit of residents, currently uses the historic site for free.

But despite its cultural and educational benefits, Councillor Amos says the council's coffers need the money.

The idea has been trounced by the Labour leadership and criticised by twinning chiefs, who say it would dent their budget.

Back in 2009 Councillor Amos ended up in a row with the organisation after suggesting Worcester should twin with Gaza, sparking ridicule.

The politician's efforts, which he insists he spearheaded on "humanitarian" grounds, were deeply unpopular within the movement, which did not approve of the idea.

During his mayoral year, Councillor Amos and the twinning association kept well away from each other, despite him being honorary president under its constitution.

He has now raised the rental the matter during a full council meeting, saying: "It's important to maximise the revenue from all our assets.

"Why is it the twinning association gets free use of the building, when others have to pay, and what is the cost to this council?"

Councillor Joy Squires, the deputy leader, told him the body "plays a key role in the city", defending its purpose.

The decision over allowing the twinning association to use the Guildhall for free is linked to the fact that each year, the incoming Mayor of Worcester becomes its new honorary president.

The mayor's own office - known as the mayor's parlour - is inside the Guildhall.

People who join the association pay £10 a year or £15 for corporate memberships, and get chance to take part in the trips abroad.

It currently costs £45 to rent a room inside the Guildhall for a meeting, with the organisation using it every other month.

After the meeting Labour Councillor Jo Hodges, who is vice-chairman of the city's twinning association, called it "a dig".

"I'm shocked he used an organisation which provides co-operation and friendship for political grounds," she said.

Twinning association chairman Liz Smith said: "Twinning is run for the benefit of the city, from the pockets of the members.

"If we had to pay rent it would considerably dent the association's income."