A PADIHAM town councillor has resigned from the council after accusing the body of becoming party political.

Ann Bartlett handed in her resignation to the chairman of the council this week, saying the appointment of Coun Andrew Tatchell as the deputy mayor had politicised the council.

The former Green Ward councillor, who had not attended a meeting since February, said in a letter to the council that Councillor Tatchell, who won his seat for Gawthorpe ward in last night's elections, was twice rejected as a councillor for Green last year, and his co-option onto the council was a mistake.

It continued: "His strong involvement in party politics is obvious to us all and to have him in as mayor elect seems to me to make a laughing stock of all the council says it upholds, namely to be none party political."

Today Mrs Bartlett, 66, said she felt it was unsuitable to continue on the council and accused Burnley Council of obtaining a foothold on the council.

She said: "I know this is allowed, but it is not done frequently and in this instance I feel it is the borough council taking over our local council when we fought so hard to get our own council.

"I have only done what my conscience has told me to do. Other people may think it's wrong."

However, when the resignation was announced at this week's town council meeting, councillors stressed the council was neutral.

Coun Tatchell hit back at Mrs Bartlett's claims and said if she had attended meetings she would know he never mentions political parties.

He said: "She has chosen this time to mention this to do the most political damage, which is ironic when she says Padiham Town Council should not be political.

"She has tried to make something out of something which is patently not there and to say it gives the borough council a hold on the town council is absolute nonsense."

At his first meeting as the new mayor, Coun Mark Jinkinson said he was sad to hear of the resignation.

He said: "I am sure we make every effort to keep the council a-political and I state in my term as mayor I will make every effort for it not to be political."