A HYNDBURN councillor has resigned from the Labour group in protest at the way his daughter was selected as a potential councillor.

Coun Malcolm Pritchard says the Labour party broke its own selection process rules by deciding to select another candidate at a meeting where not enough people were present.

And he is angry because Clare, 30, was picked to run for a strong Tory ward - and not the Barnfield ward she wanted to represent.

He also said other candidates were not even interviewed before being picked to represent Barnfield instead of his daughter.

But Labour leader Jean Battle today said he had jumped the gun and the candidates will be interviewed this weekend.

"The Labour party had a meeting before Christmas and there wasn't a quorum," said Coun Pritchard, who will now represent Milnshaw ward as an independent.

"They had a joint meeting for the Barnfield and Baxenden branches and they put Gerry Newton in for Barnfield and they wanted Clare for Baxenden. But there's no chance of winning in Baxenden and Clare won't go as a paper candidate. She's too clever for that."

Coun Battle said the decision had yet to be ratified: "We haven't selected anybody for anywhere yet. It's got to go to the executive of the Labour party and they make the decision. Any branch that isn't quorate we interview, we always do, it's party rules. Malcolm just jumped the gun before he even bothered to ask anyone about it. The Labour group has nothing to do with the selection of councillors - it's the party which does that."

Coun Pritchard will be removed from all committees he is a member of including the chairmanship of Accrington area council.

He successfully defended his seat last year against the challenge of Conservative Derek Scholes, and will not come up for reselection until 2007.