A RETIRING councillor of 35 years has offered words of advice to his successor, keep your mouth shut for at least a month while you listen and learn.

Coun Len Dickinson, 68, who has been on Hyndburn Borough Council for 26 years and spent nine years prior to that on Church Area District Council will retire from the role on May 2.

The former postman who was born and raised in Clayton moved to Church when he married his wife Jean in 1956 and has served the people of that area since 1967.

He said: "I will really miss the members of the council and the officers as I have made some very good friends and had some great times.

"I have never been afraid to express my opinions but when I first started I was advised to keep my mouth shut and listen to others which was really good advice. I would tell anyone who joins the Council next week to do this also and not to think they can change the world straight away. They have to do it slowly and confidently."

Len says his highlights have been four trips with Jean to Buckingham Palace as well as his four years as a county councillor beginning when Labour took over in 1980 and he took the seat of the late Bert Taylor.

In his retirement he plans to spend more time with his family including his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as well as enjoying holidays in Spain and Rhodes.

Coun Clifford Westell of Spring Hill ward is also set to bow out after 26 years service along with Coun Ken Curtis of Central ward after 28 years as a Hyndburn Borough Councillor.

Also retiring next week are Mohammed Aslam (Central), Roy Atkinson (Netherton), Russell Davies (Norden), Susan Haworth (Clayton-le-Moors), Sheila Hindle (St Andrews), Maureen Keegan (Peel) and Linda Wilson (Overton).