A LABOUR group leader has been ousted by his own colleagues.

Coun David Hancock, who had led the party in Rossendale for four years, has been replaced by Coun Alyson Barnes following a vote by Labour members.

Coun Hanock said he was considering his future as a councillor after losing out. He said he did not know why his position had been challenged but Coun Barnes said it was time for a change and a different approach.

Coun Barnes said she was delighted with her new role and thanked Coun Hancock for his "tremendous" efforts and for the "important part" he played in the good election results for the party last week.

But Coun Hancock, who serves the Whitewell Ward and has been a councillor for 20 years, said that after the election results, he saw no "real reason" why he should be replaced.

He said: "I am disappointed that I lost. It has been four years of hard work. I am proud of the job I have done but that is the way it goes."

He said after serving for so long and sitting on every committee, as well as being a former mayor of Rossendale, it would be a shame for him to leave the group, which now has 12 councillors, but that he needed to consider his future over the next fortnight.

Coun Barnes, who serves the Goodshaw Ward, challenged Coun Hancock at the group's AGM on Tuesday.

A secret ballot was held and members decided Coun Barnes, who became deputy leader in 2003, should take control of the party.

She and Coun Hancock, who fought back to health after suffering a stroke last April, were the only ones names put forward.

Coun Barnes said: "It's onwards and upwards now. Obviously our main aim is to regain control of the council.

"There are also issues which need to be tackled including our towns and villages which are in need of regeneration as they are looking a bit neglected." Coun Barnes said she would also be looking to tackle issues surroun-ding services, improv-ing recycling rates and health inequalities.

She said: "Rossendale is a smashing place. It's full of very decent people."

Coun Barnes, who works for a housing association in St Helens, moved to Crawshawb-ooth, from Eccles in Salford, in 1989, and joined the Rossendale Labour Group in 1990.

She said she was active in the party since 1993/94 and was first elected as a councillor in 1999.

A new deputy leader will be chosen at a later date to allow as many people as possible to put their name forward.