AN extraordinary meeting of a borough council has confirmed its new leader after the sudden resignation of his predecessor.

Cllr Stephen Atkinson took over as leader of Ribble Valley Council Tory group earlier this after Cllr Ken Hind, subject of a council inquiry into complaints of bullying, quit in December.

Tuesday night's meeting confirmed Billington and Old Langho's Cllr Atkinson as council leader and chair of its Policy and Finance Committee.

It also confirmed several new committee chairmen and Cllr Rupert Swarbrick as his deputy

Cllr Atkinson said: "I opted to make thoroughgoing changes following widespread consultation about the membership of council committees.I had intended to do this at the next Full Council but decided to take advantage of Tuesday's meeting and do this earlier rather than later.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Allan Knox said: "This is just new faces but the same old regime."