A THIRD Tory councillor in a month is to resign from Rossendale Council.

Coun Janet Farquharson, who represents the Irwell Ward, in Bacup, is to quit the Valley and return to Scotland where she and her husband Charlie were born.

Charlie, who is 70, is due to retire from his joining job in Preston, and a house in the Betty Hill which the couple have fallen in love with has come available so they have decided the time is now to move.

Last month the Telegraph reported that Goodshaw Ward representative Michael Ormerod and Marlene Crosta, of Whitewell Ward, who cited health reasons, resigned from the council.

Mr Ormerod initially sparked controversy after failing to resign even though he had moved to Italy.

Janet and Charlie, who are originally from Argylshire, have been holidaying in Bettyhill, which is on the north coast, for the past 20 years, two or three times a year.

The couple, who currently live in Gladstone Street, Bacup, came to Rossendale 14-and-a-half years ago, after moving from Davyhulme, Manchester, where they were caring for Janet's mother, who had moved to the area through marriage.

Janet, who is 54 and in her first term, was due to be up for re-election next May, but with few houses in Bettyhill coming on to the market, said the couple had to take the opportunity now and they hope to be in Scotland by the end of August or beginning of September.

Janet, who has two grown-up children and four grandchildren, said: "If we don't do it now then we never will.

"I have got a close connection with Rossendale and I will be sad to leave but I am looking forward to a new life.

"We have got a lot of friends up there and I am involved in a lot of things."

Coun Duncan Ruddick, leader of Rossendale Council, paid tribute to her "hard work and achievements".

He said: "Janet's contribution to the council since she was elected in 2004 has been tremendous.

"I would like to thank Janet for all her achievements and her personal support and wish her and her husband Charley all the best for the future."

A trained counsellor, Janet is chair of the Policy Scrutiny Committee and also sits on the Licensing Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.

She also has many other council appointments, including Equalities Champion, Markets Liasion Group, Health and Safety Champion and Christmas Lights Working Group.

Outside of the council she is the loans officer for the Bacup Credit Union, a board member on the Bacup Tenant Management Organisation, secretary of Sunnycrest Community Centre, in Pennine Road and a committee member at Bacup Family Centre.

A by-election for all three vacant seats will take place on September 13.

The resignations have reduced the number of Tory seats from 22 to 19.

There are currently 12 Labour councillors, one Liberal Democrat and one Independent.