BURNLEY Liberal Democrat Gordon Birtwistle has stood down as party boss in the town -- after 18 years as a group leader on Burnley Council.

But engineering firm chief Coun Birtwistle says his decision is nothing to do with his national party's decision to drop him as a General Election candidate.

Coun Birtwistle has been succeeded as LibDem leader by his deputy Roger Frost.

The man who became the town's first Social and Democratic Party councillor in Burnley in 1983, says he is earmarked to become Mayor of Burnley next year.

"If I am re-elected next May, I am due to be mayor and would not be able to carry out civic duties and be a party chairman," he explained. I thought it would be right to stand aside and give Roger the opportunity to do the job -- he has my full support."

Coun Birtwistle, head of Stuart Engineering of Oswaldtwistle, said pressure of work had also had a major bearing on his decision.

Last month Coun Birtwistle, who has fought two General Elections for the LibDems, said he was furious when the party dropped him from its list of potential candidates.