A COUNCILLOR said he left his leading position on the borough council because of a hospital operation.

Former For Darwen Party member Michael Johnson said he had been replaced as lead member for leisure and culture because he would need time to recover from an operation on his shoulder today.

A full council meeting last week had been told he had been axed and replaced by Coun Trevor Maxfield.

Coun Johnson, who represents Fernhurst ward, recently quit the For Darwen group in what he described as an "amicable" split over policy differences with party members.