COUNTY councillor Tim Ormrod has been appointed to Lancashire's cabinet with responsibility for public protection and rural affairs.

Coun Ormrod has been a county councillor since 1997, representing Colne.

He also serves on Pendle Borough Council where he has represented Waterside ward since 1992.

Before modernisation of the county council, he was vice-chairman of the highways and transportation committee and chairman of the public rights of way sub-committee and its Access forum, Enterprising Rural Communities.

He represents the county council on the Lancashire Access forum.

He is currently chairman of the Lancashire foot and mouth task force which is charged with the economic regeneration of Lancashire in the wake of the foot and mouth outbreak. He was pleased this month to be able to visit the first restored Farmers' Market in Colne.

Locally, Coun Ormrod is vice-chairman of Colne and District Credit Union, a community savings and loans co-operative, and heads a steering group to form a Colne housing co-operative.

He said: "I am delighted to be appointed to the county council's first cabinet.

"This is an exciting time for Lancashire with the modernisation of the county council, bringing services closer to the people.

"My Cabinet responsibilities will include trading standards, scientific services, emergency planning, the registration service and issues affecting rural areas, which means I will be dealing closely with front-line services for the people of Lancashire."