A Dorset Council meeting ended in chaos with councillors led out of the chamber as a resolution on climate change was interrupted by protestors.

After switching to an adjoining committee room the debate was then cut short, some claim not allowed to continue at all – with some councillors leaving the meeting in protest at not being able to reach a resolution under normal debating rules.

Council leader Spencer Flower later expressed his disgust about the "totally unacceptable behaviour in the chamber by known members of Extinction Rebellion".

"I believe in democracy and the right for all strands of opinion to be heard. We think of the murders of Jo Cox MP, and recently Sir David Amess MP. Our elected representatives will not be cowed by anarchists but we will be conscious of our safety and we will condemn those who threaten it and our democratic values that all parties and people of the UK hold dear.'"

The order to clear the chamber flowed from reaction to a resolution from council leader which opponents said could have given free reign for fossil fuel extraction, or nuclear power, in the county in the name of self sufficiency.

Cameras and microphones were cut off at just under two hours into the evening meeting shortly after Weymouth councillor Louie O'Leary stood to second the motion from majority Conservative group leader Spencer Flower.

Cllr O'Leary (Con Littlemoor and Preston) had just said how he would welcome nuclear power rather than be dictated to by Russian dictators, oligarchs, or Middle Eastern states, when his comments were met with shouts from climate activists.

At that point the cameras went blank the Weymouth councillor was looking up at those shouting from above him in the public gallery.

As the screen changed to darkness, with just the symbol 'C', council chairman Cllr Val Pothecary was heard to say "clear the chamber".

According to councillors at the County Hall meeting they were then ushered into an adjoining room where it was made clear that Cllr Flower's motion would be put, but there would be no further amendments or debate.

Some are said to have left the meeting at that point in protest at not being able to reach a resolution under normal debating rules.

Cllr David Tooke said he was one of the councillors who walked out in protest at no debate being allowed.

"The chair said she had a list of councillors who wanted to speak but because of the disruption decided no debate was to be allowed. We still had 40 minutes of our normal three hours left. There was absolutely no reason for her to deny democratic debate.

"As I left, I went through the Council Chamber – largely deserted apart from the protestors and police. I spoke with the protesters and expressed huge disappointment with their action which had resulted in many councillors who broadly supported their opposition to fossil fuels being silenced. Complete farce all round."

Green spokesman Dr Kelvin Clayton said to be told there was to be no debate left many upset and angry: "We were told that we would go straight to the vote, that the chair would take no speakers. Many, including me, were furious. At least one councillor walked out in disgust. In the event all Tories voted for the motion, most Lib Dems abstained, and we voted against. Not the finest day for democracy."

Cllr Flower issued a statement on Friday morning after being contacted overnight by email . Cllr O'Leary described my brief social media report on the events as "complete nonsense".

Lib Dem opposition leader Cllr Nick Ireland said the situation was undemocratic.

Weymouth councillor Ryan Hope (Lib Dem) was another to leave the meeting after being told the item would not be deferred until the next full council meeting.

"I asked the leader, Cllr Spencer Flower, if he would consider withdrawing the motion until the next meeting but he refused, totally undemocratic," he said.

A motion from Weymouth Green councillor Clare Sutton had earlier called for national legislation to be strengthened to allow councils to reject fossil fuel applications. It was lost by 41 votes to 30.

The second motion, from the controlling Conservative group asked the Government to back legislation ensuring UK energy self-sufficiency.

Council leader Spencer Flower, seconded by Cllr Louie O'Leary, called for the council to "urge the Government to introduce an energy policy with the principal objective of securing permanent UK energy self-sufficiency from as early a date as possible, utilising whatever forms of energy generation sourced from within the UK are necessary to this end".

It said that in the short term the Government should "introduce flexibilities when considering the need for national energy self-sufficiency. This will recognise the serious, long lasting national security implications of the instability that accompanies the present but unavoidable need to import energy, and which is also a principal driver in the cost of living crisis now facing this country".

The complex motion, in four parts, also called for a commitment to the Government's climate change objectives.