Claims a councillor was dropped by his party for refusing to canvas voters rather than take church services have sparked a furious political row.

George Reynolds, a current Labour councillor for Colliers Wood, was not picked by the party to defend the ward in this year’s election.

He has since claimed he was unsuccessful because he is a Methodist minister who leads worship on a Sunday - and so cannot spend the day canvassing.

But Councillor Stephen Alambritis, leader of Merton Council’s Labour group, said although Coun Reynolds had passed through the general committee selection process, it was up to the ward’s party members to pick their three strongest candidates through a secret ballot.

He said Sunday leafleting had not been a factor in the decision.

Coun Reynolds, who has served the ward for 12 years, said he had heard the rumour after the ballot about six months ago.

He said: “Nobody has told me personally, but I’m getting to believe it.

"There is no other reason why I was not selected - I was a damn good councillor.”

But other Labour councillors said Sunday canvassing had never been a requirement for candidates, with many leafleting on other days of the week because of religious responsibilities.

The row erupted when Coun Reynolds missed the council’s budget meeting last week.

The accusation was published on the blog of Miles Windsor - a Conservative candidate for Cannon Hill ward.

Mr Windsor said he had been told the story by Labour sources.

However, Labour’s Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh said the claim was “deeply offensive”.

She added: “This whole story is politically-motivated smearing, with no bearing in truth whatsoever.

“To be clear, the rules of the Labour Party expressly forbid exclusion on religious grounds, and neither can any individual veto anyone else from standing.

"Coun Reynolds has never been excluded from standing, and his religious beliefs and commitments never arose during the selection process.”