HINDSFORD Liberal Democrat Robert Bleakley -- subject of two Labour Party letters of complaint to his national HQ -- will be the new Leader of the Opposition on Wigan Council after next week's elections.

But after the election Cllr Bleakley is the only Lib Dem guaranteed to be on the council!

Cllr Bleakley, who has been in a protracted battle with Labour rivals, says his new position is a tribute to the work he has done for Hindsford voters and is confident he will not be the leader of a one-man band.

Working to make sure he is, Hindsford Labour candidate Mark Aldred has been interviewed by police investigating allegations of a poison pen campaign against him and Mayor of Wigan, Cllr Evelyne Smith

"I received another vicious letter this week and have reported it to the police," said Mr Aldred.

This week the Hindsford Ward party have written a second letter to Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy asking him to investigate his party's local election strategy.