A lone blogger has effectively killed off a town council after 11 of its members resigned in protest at his constant online “sniping”.

Somerton council, in Somerset, has been left with only four members after a three-year campaign by Niall Connolly, who began his blog in disgust at delays to a promised community hall.

Councillors claim that the blog, called “MuckandBrass”, has become increasingly bitter and personal, with members called “clowns”, “hypocrites” and “jackasses” who have “only just discovered” democracy.

One former councillor, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being singled out for further abuse, said: “The attacks amounted to personal abuse and we’ve tried long and hard to ignore it but it came to a head this week and councillors simply can’t take any more.

“There’s only so much abuse you can take.”

The crunch came at a meeting on Tuesday when members were presented with a letter from Mr Connolly demanding that they explain their policies and their stance on “democracy”.

Eleven of the 15 members walked out, citing “impossible working conditions”. One was absent and another stormed out in support, leaving only two. Rodger Calderwood, the town clerk, said a council must have at least one third of its members in post to function.

In her letter of resignation, former councillor Jackie Medley said: “I firmly believe that this is a very hollow victory for the minority and that the majority will suffer as a result of one person’s vindictive nature and the sheep that follow him.”

Mr Connolly became disillusioned with the council soon after moving to Somerton in 2006.

In his blog on August 1, he called one councillor, Martyn Smith, a “racist” and compared a statement by him to a “a Nazi call to arms or an invitation to ethnic cleansing”.

His comments followed a suggestion by Mr Smith that only local residents should be allowed to vote on issues affecting Somerton.

Mr Connolly said that his complaints were justified: “My blog is completely fact-based. I started it because I wanted to circumvent councillors’ control of the information the people of Somerton hear.”

He said he had a moral commitment to the people and had no political agenda, hating “all politicians with equal measure”.

“Here we have a cosy group of people who are so used to residents taking them at face value that when they are challenged they can’t take it.”

A series of vandal attacks including a brick through his window in August have convinced Mr Connolly that he is being victimised for the views in his blog. He said: “I have no doubt whatsoever that my windows were smashed as a direct result of my blog. A car was torched a few doors down from my house. Given the nature of my blog, this is a big coincidence to say the least.”

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