THE change to the date of the local elections has thrown all three main parties into holiday chaos.

Blackburn with Darwen Council party leaders Malcolm Doherty from Labour and Paul Browne of the Lib Dems have both had their holiday plans disrupted by the new June 7 polling day announced by the government.

The election has been put back five weeks from May 3 because of fears the Foot and Mouth Crisis could affect polling and canvassing.

But Coun Browne said his planned week in Malta in mid-May would go ahead because his wife, Ruth, refused to cancel it.

Coun Browne said he was "sick" when the change to the new election date was announced, but vowed to continue campaigning right up to leaving for his holiday and immediately he returns.

He said: "I don't like leaving a campaign, but the holiday's all booked and paid for. My wife would not stand for cancelling."

County Coun Chris Holtom was due to leave for Italy on June 5 but has postponed his holiday until July. And Coun Jim Blackburn, who is defending his Shadsworth seat this year, has had to postpone a holiday planned for the week starting June 3, though he is looking on the bright side.

He said: "It is a caravanning holiday and it was quite easy to move it back a couple of weeks. And that might mean it's better because the weather might be warmer."

Coun John Milburn said the change had affected a number of Labour's candidates, including party leader Malcolm Doherty whose holiday plans also clashed with the new election campaign.

The leader of the council will now take his holiday to Cyprus and Egypt in August. Coun Milburn said: "I think the change in date probably affects three or four candidates."

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Conservative group, is defending North Turton with Tockholes this year.

He said the change had not affected his party too much, with the exception of his wife Jean who also represents North Turton with Tockholes, who had to postpone a short break in Portugal due to start in early June. Coun Rigby said: "It's not a problem, Jean has just re-booked it for the summer."

But he said the change most affected Coun John Williams, who was due to be made mayor in May and could now lose a month of his year in office after the Annual Council Meeting, when the ceremony takes place, was also put back to June.

All the parties say they expect a period of limbo while extra council meetings are hurriedly added to the calendar which had been cleared to allow them to campaign throughout April. There will now be extra council meetings in May.

And the Lib Dems face many hours work amending leaflets already printed for Sudell and Marsh House wards at a cost of £250 with the May 3 election date on.

Coun Browne insisted: "They are going to go out. We are not wasting them."

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw said he had not had to cancel any holidays because of the election delay.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said he had no holidays booked for May adding: "I was rather hoping to be back at work at Westminster."

And Rossendale and Darwen MP and Tourism Minister Janet Anderson, who this week urged her colleagues to take their breaks in the UK, said: "I have booked and cancelled no holidays. If I had any they would be taken in the UK."