BURNLEY'S arrangements for the town's next mayor have had to be changed after a mathematics boob led to the wrong man being put up for the job.

Current mayor Margaret Lishmen will step down next month and was due to be replaced by the current deputy, Coun Peter McCann.

However a council officer's maths error in calculating length of service, which is how mayors are chosen, means two other councillors should have been picked ahead of Coun McCann.

Burnley's new mayor will now be Coun Roger Frost, if elected as planned at next week's council meeting, after Peter McCann agreed to step aside. Coun Frost has 13 years service as a councillor.

Coun McCann, a Liberal Democrat Hapton with Park ward councillor, who has served on the council for 11 years, said: "It's disappointing that I won't be mayor, but I didn't want to bring the office into any controversy so I decided to step aside so that the proper order of mayors could be restored.

"It would have been an honour, but it simply wasn't my turn so now things are back as they should be.

"I guess I will just have to wait a couple of years for my turn.

"I'll also have to serve as deputy again, but at least I've had plenty of practice."

A report to Burnley Council said it came to light after the appointments were made last year that the level of service had been calculated wrongly.

Coun McCann will now serve a second term as deputy mayor to Mohammed Najib, who will be mayor after Roger Frost, before becoming top dog himself.

A Burnley Council spokesman said the authority's protocol should have meant Coun McCann becoming mayor in May.

He said: "A problem has come to light following Coun McCann's appointment as deputy mayor/mayor elect for 2004/05 as it is now evident that two other councillors have slightly longer service.

"It has been agreed by all parties that Coun McCann will forego his right to take up the position of mayor next year

"Instead, Coun Frost will become mayor with Coun Najib as his deputy. Coun Najib will then become Mayor in 2006.