Ryde mayor allegedly 'coward punched' at polling booth

The mayor of Ryde, in Sydney’s northwest, was allegedly knocked unconscious by a “coward punch” after tensions boiled over at a council polling booth today.

Bill Pickering was handing out sandwiches when he was confronted by former mayor and independent candidate Vic Tagg.

Witnesses told 9NEWS Clr Pickering was knocked to the ground by an alleged coward punch, when things turned ugly.

It is understood the mayor was knocked unconscious after striking the ground and then had a seizure.

Paramedics rushed him to nearby Ryde Hospital where he underwent scans.

“Hopefully he’s ok – but it could have been a hell of a lot worse,” one witness said.

Voting was under way at the time for Ryde’s East Ward by-election. The by-election was triggered by former mayor Ivan Petch’s resignation in December following an Independent Commission against Corruption inquiry.

Witnesses say Mr Tagg had made several claims that the Liberal party was “corrupt” before he allegedly punched Clr Pickering.

Clr Pickering is a member of the Liberal party.

Police are yet to speak to Mr Tagg.