TWO former Liberal Democrat councillors who left the party 16 months ago to sit as Free Independents have joined Labour.

Husband and wife Bill and Margaret Brindle quit claiming ‘bullying’ by the leader of their group on Burnley Council Cllr Gordon Birtwistle, a fellow Deerplay and Coalclough ward representative.

Last week they officially joined Labour.

Cllr Mrs Brindle, who chaired Lancashire County Council in 2015/2016, said: “This took a lot of consideration and deliberation.

"We left the Liberal Democrats because of the behaviour of leader Cllr Birtwistle.”

Her husband said: "We feel we will be at home with the Labour group in Burnley."

Rosehill with Burnley Wood LibDem Cllr Jeff Sumner said: “This has not come as a surprise , we have been waiting for them to jump ship to Labour for a while now.

"This is their third party in two years. People and voters need to question their commitment ,They left the Liberal Democrats before they were pushed out as the party wasn’t happy on how they were conducting themselves." ”

Cllr Tony Martin, chair of Burnley Labour Party said: "I am delighted

"We have always had good working relationships with Bill and Margaret at Burnley and county council level.

"They will be a welcome addition to the Labour group."”

This takes Labour up to 25 out of Burnley’s 45 councillors. Four other former LibDems sit as The Burnley and Padiham Independent group.

Cllr Mrs Brindle added: "The Labour Council in Burnley and Padiham has been very successful in promoting the town and its people and we want to be a part of that good work.”