A CRISIS meeting of a borough Labour group has chosen a new acting leader to take it into May's local elections after its current boss dramatically quit the party last week.

All Hyndburn Labour councillors were called to a meeting at Accrington Town Hall on Tuesday night following Cllr Miles Parkinson's resignation at Thursday's Full Council meeting of the authority.

The 55-year-old, who had been a Labour member for 28 years, blamed "certain individuals who are operating behind the scenes" for his decision.

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While Cllr Parkinson will remain Hyndburn Council leader until May's annual meeting of the authority while sitting as an Independent, the Labour group needed to choose a new leader for the election campaign.

The party meeting - attended by Labour North-West's Regional Director Liam Didsbury and two other senior officials - confirmed that deputy leader of the council Cllr Paul Cox, who represents Peel ward in Accrington, would be in charge during the election campaign.

Hyndburn Labour Party has been hit by a series of high-profile resignations in recent months and several other councillors are not standing on May 5.

Lancashire Telegraph: Cllr Paul Cox is the new leader in HyndburnCllr Paul Cox is the new leader in Hyndburn

In his speech resigning from the Labour Party Cllr Parkinson said Hyndburn Labour party had become "unpleasant, bullying and vindictive".

The regional Labour officials are understood to have told the meeting that councillors and party members in Hyndburn needed to end the infighting and work together with the election campaign imminent.

Labour sources said: "It was a very positive meeting. We all agreed to bury the hatchet and move forward. It was a new start."

Cllr Cox said after the meeting: "Although, as with any group or organisation, there will be different opinions we are now focusing on representing the local community in to the next elections."

Currently Labour has 19 councillors, the Conservatives 12 and there are three Independents including Cllr Parkinson and former Labour cabinet member Cllr Jenny Molineux. There is one vacancy.

Twelve wards are up for election on May 5.