A COUNTY councillor in East Lancashire has failed in his bid to become elected for two seats 276 miles apart.

Controversially Coun George Askew, who still represents Pendle Central division at County Hall, stood for the Up Hatherley seat, for the Conservatives, on Cheltenham Borough Council.

He has moved to Gloucestershire to act as agent for the Forest of Dean Tory MP Mark Harper and resigned his Boulsworth seat on Pendle Council before the current polls.

But he failed to oust sitting Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Whyborn in the Cheltenham seat. He was also up against a UKIP candidate Jeff Hack, making his task even more difficult.