BY-ELECTION candidates for a ward in East Lancashire have been announced following the unexpected resignation of a councillor.

Five people will stand for Rosehill with Burnley Wood ward ahead of the by-election next month. It comes following the resignation of one of the ward councillors, Christine White, who was elected to Burnley Council in May 2016 for a four-year term.

The 73-year-old quit her post in February because of ‘harassment and intimidation’ by a resident of her ward. Mrs White was originally elected as a Liberal Democrat and later joined the breakaway Burnley and Padiham Independent Party.

The five new candidates are Green Party ­— Victoria Alker, of Halifax Road, Briercliffe; Conservative Party ­— Phil Chamberlain, of Parkinson Street, Burnley; Labour Party ­— Andy Devanney, of Hope Street, Worsthorne; Liberal Democrats ­— Peter Rennie McCann, of Aspen Drive, Burnley, and Burnley and Padiham Independent Party ­— Paula Christine Riley, of Red Lees Avenue, Cliviger.

The by-election will take place on April 11.