A CIVIC row is brewing over who will be the next Mayor of Bury.

The Tories were stunned when Labour announced that they had chosen Radcliffe councillor Barry Briggs to take over the top spot.

And they have threatened to overturn the decision if they take control in the June 10 elections.

Council leader John Byrne told Wednesday's meeting that, under protocol, Labour should have the mayoralty. Protocol says that the majority group should choose the mayor from its own ranks two years out of every three. The current mayor is Coun Wilf Davison, who is a Liberal Democrat.

Coun Briggs has represented Radcliffe North for nine years, and is chairman of Radcliffe area board. His wife, Sharon, is also a councillor for the ward.

Tory leader Roy Walker told the Bury Times that this announcement came as a shock. "We've not been consulted at all," he said. "The last we heard, this decision was being put off until after the elections. I don't feel honour-bound by it, and we will have to review the position if we take control. It certainly will not be 'their turn' if we win the election!"