A COUNCIL'S education boss has been promoted to its deputy leader in a post-local election shake-up.

New Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley has chosen his top team after Labour consolidated its control of the borough last week.

Education and Children's Services boss Cllr Julie Gunn becomes one of two deputy leaders and keeps her current portfolio.

Her new appointment comes despite Ofsted inspectors downgrading the borough's children's services department from 'good' to 'requires improvement' in March.

Cllr Quesir Mahmood keeps his role as the other number two to Cllr Riley.

But he is moved to the new leader's old job as growth and development boss.

His previous post responsible for digital and customer services goes to Blackburn Central ward's Cllr Mahfooz Hussain.

He is the only new member of an otherwise unchanged council executive board.

Cllr Vicky McGurk remains finance and governance boss and Cllr Damian Talbot keeps the public health and wellbeing brief.

Cllr Jim Smith remains responsible for environmental services while Cllr Mustafa Desai keeps his post in charge of adult services and prevention.

The other seat on Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board goes to the leader of the Conservative group Cllr John Slater.

Cllr Gunn said: "I am absolutely thrilled. It's a real honour. I am pleased with the faith Cllr Riley has shown in me."

Cllr Hussain said: "I am very pleased to take on further responsibilities. It is an honour for me to take this new position up."

Cllr Riley said: "We have a lot of skills now in the Labour group.

"I wanted to have the minimum of change as it is clear from the local elections that residents are happy with our direction of travel and I wanted to keep it that way."