ONE of the bosses of Burnley and Padiham Community Housing has left his post.

Housing bosses would only say Paul Buckley had left the company by "mutual agreement" and had wished him success in the future.

It is not known whether Mr Buckley has another job to go to.

The news was announced in an internal memorandum to staff issued yesterday after Mr Buckley had been on "leave" for the previous five weeks. Coun Lilian Clark, who is on the board of management, made up of councillors, staff and tenants, said: "We had a meeting with chief executive Tim Pinder last Monday and all he would say is that Paul Buckley was on leave."

However, a memo to staff from Tim Pinder reads: "Burnley and Padiham Community Housing would like to inform all employees that Paul Buckley, director of housing and regeneration, left the company with effect from November 30.

"The decision to leave the company has been made by mutual agreement of both parties. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul for the contribution he has made to the company over the past three years and during the transfer process.

"I am sure the staff would want to join me in wishing Paul success in the future."

Mr Buckley and Burnley and Padiham Community Housing have in recent months come under fire over accusations that they were moving homeless people from London into housing stock in Burnley and for sending out letters last Christmas threatening to evict tenants who failed to pay rent on time. The company has owned and managed the 5,400 homes which used to be owned by Burnley Council since March 2000.

Last year chief executive Ian Saville walked away from his job, again following speculation about his position.

When he was appointed to the then £60,000-a-year position in 2000 it was met with criticism from Burnley Council's then Independent councillor Harry Brooks, who quit the board of the new housing company claiming it was "jobs for the boys".

Mr Saville had previously run the council's housing when it was municipally owned and was the only candidate for the post, after it was advertised internally.