A hapless councillor appeared naked on his laptop camera as he showered during a meeting bringing a smile from the chairwoman and laughter from colleagues in Romania.
Social Democratic (PSD) councillor Alberto-Iosif Caraian was none the wiser when his laptop camera filmed him in his bathroom when the meeting started.
Caraian appeared naked with his hair wet having apparently stepped out of the shower as attendance was being taken.
The chairwoman broke into a smile when she saw his embarrassing predicament and laughter could be heard in the council room.
Somebody amid the amusement could be heard shouting: “Alberto turn the camera off” and then realising what he had done, Caraian replied: “But I can’t turn it off.”
The councillor then carried on: “I can’t turn it off, I apologise completely, I have a bad cold and I don’t know how to turn it off.”
He did then hang up and later rejoined the meeting with his clothes on.
The video conferencing connection he was using meant that the camera automatically turns on when the microphone is switched on.
Later Caraian also apologised on Facebook over what happened.
He wrote: "Technology playing tricks on me. Unfortunately I paid the price there for rushing! I am really sorry for the unfortunate incident. The hot water was from the boiler, which was also a sign of the questions I have had afterwards. Sorry again everyone!"
The comical incident has gone viral on social media where some have used it to criticise the councillor while many others have come out to support him over what was an accident.
One person wrote: "How does the technology play tricks when you were supposed to be at work, work paid from public money? Who else has this luxury, Alberto? Some work for hours without a break, five minutes to go to the bathroom."
Another said: "We all make mistakes."
And a further wrote: "When you have nothing to talk about, you choose to rely on a minor mistake to denigrate a man. We all know the professionalism that you show and it is clear that it was an accident, but nooo... Some people's job is just to point fingers."
It is not the first time that video conferencing of council meeting have hit the headlines with Jackie Weaver became a household name overnight after a big bust up on a Handforth Parish Council.
She famously tried to mute and eject several councillors, despite being told "she had no authority" to do so.
