THE For Darwen Party has hit back at a councillor who claimed Blackburn was suffering as a result of Darwen’s regeneration.

Arif Waghat said Blackburn had become a “junior partner” to Darwen in the eyes of the council when he resigned from the Liberal Democrat group.

Coun Waghat, who represents Shear Brow, said: “It has become a case of the tail wagging the dog”, and blamed the rise of the For Darwen Party for the trend. But For Darwen Party leader Tony Melia said: “It’s true, we have had a good deal over the past two or three years.

“But before that Darwen had not had anything for a long time.

“We went 24 years without anything and now things are starting to happen.”