PADIHAM housing boss Tony Brankin has gained a BA Honours Degree in history and social policy at the age of 52.

The tenants' representative, banned by Burnley council for trying to buy a mini bus for council residents without consent, studied for three years at Burnley College and the University of Central Lancashire for the degree. Part of the course for the former chairman of Padiham's area management committee was a 20,000 word dissertation on the history of public housing, tenant participation and health and welfare.

Tony reckons he would have come through with a first class degree but for the pressure placed on him by a year-long investigation into his activities by Burnley council at the height of his studies.

Tony who moved to Burnley from Lancaster in 1978 left school without qualifications but has since gained "O" and "A" levels in law, English, Mathematics and community and family studies.

He gained further qualifications in criminology and community care at Open College.

Tony, banned by the council from Padiham management committee for alleged malpractice last year, bounced back within a month when tenants overwhelmingly elected him as their representative on the board of directors of Burnley an Padiham Housing, the new company which will take control of all the borough's council houses in February.

The qualified youth and and community worker now aims to go on to a Masters Degree and PhD.

He says: "My advice to anybody of any age is to continue their education."

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