THE planned £35million Darwen Academy will go ahead as planned despite the resignation of Capita boss Rodney Aldridge.

The multi-millionaire has said he wants to concentrate on his educational projects such as the Academy, which will be funded through his charitable trust, when he leaves the company in July.

Services provided to Blackburn with Darwen Council by Capita are also not expected to be affected by his resignation. A spokesman today said his resignation would have no bearings on contract discussions between the company and the council.

Mr Aldridge, whose company is one of the main firms used by the Government when it outsources administration work, was one of 12 donors who lent the Labour party almost £14m in total before the last election.

His name was on a list published by Tony Blair and the Labour Party which said he had given a loan of £1million.

Yesterday he resigned, citing the publicity surrounding his decision to lend the money and the effect it may have on the company's reputation.

But he insisted that decision would not stop the Academy being built and would even give him more time to concentrate on the project, which will replace the existing Darwen Moorland High School.

He said: "In July I will retire from the board to enable me to dedicate my time to pursuing my interests in the field of education and creating opportunities for young people both through my work in the voluntary sector and my Charitable Trust."

Explaining his decision he added: "At present, the Capita group's reputation is being questioned because of my personal decision to lend money to the Labour Party. As I have made clear, this was entirely my own decision as an individual, made in good faith as a long standing supporter of the Party.

"There have been suggestions that this loan has resulted in the group being awarded government contracts. This is entirely spurious. While anyone who is associated with the public procurement process would understand that this view has no credibility, I do not want this misconception to continue, as I remain passionate about the group's wellbeing."

Capita said Mr Aldridge, 58, would now serve as non-executive chairman until the group's interim results at the end of July, in order to ensure a smooth transition to a successor, after which he would retire.

He has led the company since its foundation in 1984 and his stake in the company is worth £64million.