PENDLE'S deputy mayoress Kathleen Shore claimed she was being "gagged" from speaking about being dumped as the next first lady of the borough.

Coun Shore is angry at hearing second-hand that the deputy mayor, Coun Fred Hartley, does not want her to be Mayoress when he takes up office next month.

Council stalwart Kathleen says she was stopped from raising the issue at a meeting of Pendle Labour councillors.

When contacted by the LET she said: "The deputy leader Coun Colin Waite would not allow me to raise the issue of the mayoralty.

"We were also forbidden from getting in touch with the Press."

She added: "It is all cloak and dagger. Coun Waite may have been trying to keep the peace in the party but after the meeting a number of councillors were up in arms, it was not just me."

Coun Shore added: "I don't feel isolated, I have support from colleagues and from the public. I cannot even do my shopping for people stopping me in the street and saying I have been badly done by."

Coun Waite said: "No-one could possibly gag Kathleen, she has aired her views in the local Press." He said the meeting had been called to discuss a presentation about the future structure of Pendle Council.

He that councillors were told that if they were approached by the Press they should be referred to the leader or deputy leader.

Coun Waite said Labour councillors could raise issues at the next group meeting in two week's time.