LANCASHIRE’S Liberal Democrats will today put Labour in charge of the county council.

Group leader Bill Winlow and Labour’s Jenny Mein confirmed last night a deal had been struck to put her party, which won the most seats on May 2, in control.

They were due to publish an agreed policy programme before the county annual meeting rubberstamps the deal and appoints Coun Mein as leader this afternoon.

She will then announce who holds the posts in her Labour-only cabinet.

Marcus Johnstone, who ousted the BNP in Padiham and Burnley West, and former Pendle Council leader Azhar Ali, who won Nelson South, are tipped to hold key jobs.

The Lib Dems will back Labour’s budget but have offered no guarantees to support them on every issue and will hold no cabinet posts.

The deal was agreed last night after talks between Tory leader Geoff Driver and Mr Winlow ended in a bitter row.

Coun Mein said last night: “We have come to an agreement which will see Labour control Lancashire County Council with Lib Dem support. It is not a formal coalition.”

Mr Winlow is expected to chair a powerful audit and scrutiny committee in return for supporting Labour, who won 39 of the 43 wards needed to run the county. It provides key services in 12 Lancashire boroughs, including Ribble Valley, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, and Chorley.

The Lib Dems, who won six seats to the Tories 35, gave both parties a set of demands including more investment in Burnley and Pendle, where they have four councillors, and better winter gritting in hilly areas.

They asked for the reopening of Colne household waste tip, making Brierfield Mills a job creation priority, and providing better bus services and more school places in Burnley.

Coun Driver said he could not accept the Lib Dems’ “irresponsible” demands.