London, Aug 10 (ANI): A Tory mayor has been slammed by a top UK government watchdog for claiming that Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler had the 'right idea' about dealing with gypsies in Germany.

Mike Eckersley, 72, was condemned for his 'offensive and disrespectful behaviour' after he twice made inappropriate remarks during meetings of the Corporate Equalities Group, and was accused of breaching the Denbighshire County Council's code of conduct.

"As far as I'm concerned they are just legalised squatters and scroungers, and I think, Hitler had the right idea," the Daily Mail quoted Eckersley, as saying, during one of the meetings.

At an earlier meeting of the same group, Eckersley made another comment, which sparked fury among council members.

The adjudication panel for Wales formally censured former Conservative councilor, Eckersley, who lost his council seat, but remains the mayor of Prestatyn in North Wales.

Following the incident in July 2010, Eckersley apologized for his remarks.

"These views are clearly wrong and I do not regret saying that those views are tantamount to extremism and intolerance which I have always opposed," he said.

"I understand that certain views I expressed may have been insensitive and misinterpreted. I wish to apologise for any distress that may have been caused," he added, referring to the Hitler slur. (ANI)