BEXLEY councillors fought like cats and dogs over plans for a new Thames crossing at the first full council meeting for six months.

A motion urging Transport for London and Mayor Boris Johnson to move ahead with a planned new crossing "as soon as possible" was put forward by Councillor Peter Craske.

The Blackfen and Lamorbey ward councillor reiterated the Conservative-run administration’s support for a new tunnel at Silvertown, calling it a "vital project" at the meeting in the Bexleyheath Civic Centre on April 24.

But opposition Labour councillor Munir Malik circulated an amendment to the motion adding a further paragraph backing modernisation of the Woolwich Ferry, plans for a tunnel at Gallions Reach and bringing the DLR to Bexley.

Cabinet member for the environment and public realm Cllr Gareth Bacon did not take long to chew over his response.

He said: "Labour’s approach is saying: ‘We need to do something.

"Here’s something, so let’s do it’.

"This is cats and dogs logic.

"It’s like saying ‘My dog has four legs and my cat has four legs therefore my dog is my cat’."

The Longlands ward councillor and London Assembly Member added: "I am not violently opposed to some of these proposals and bringing the DLR to Bexley would be something worth looking at. "

Earlier Thamesmead East ward councillor Malik challenged the Conservative council to "show vision" at the first full council meeting since November.

He said: "Bexley has for a long time been viewed as a forgotten outpost of greater London.

"Our argument today takes on the merits of multiple crossings rather than just one crossing.

"If you are really imaginative you could extend the DLR to Orpington.

"I hope we will have support from all around this chamber to make Sidcup even connected to central London."

Cllr Malik’s amendment was voted down along party lines while Cllr Craske’s motion was passed, with the Conservative majority voting in favour and the Labour minority against.