OUSTED council leader Sir Bill Taylor could be back in Blackburn Town Hall within weeks - in the seat previously held by the late mayor, Mike Barrett.

Sir Bill spoke after he was removed from the Audley ward, almost 25 years after first being elected to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

His shock defeat to the Liberal Democrats' Zhamir Ahmed sent shockwaves through Blackburn with Darwen Council on Friday.

According to Sir Bill, who fell 74 votes short of being re-elected, the Earcroft seat left empty by the death of Mike Barrett could tempt him into a return.

He said he would spend the next week weighing up all his options before making a decision about standing for the election on Thursday, July 15. Sir Bill also conceded the Government's policy on Iraq had contributed to the result.

He said: "I think if people had looked out of their windows, rather than into their televisions, they would have seen a transformation in Blackburn and Audley which I have contributed to.

"But they have made their choice and it would be churlish of me not to respect that."

Before making the emotional journey to Blackburn town hall to strip the leader's office of his personal possessions, Sir Bill said he had been inundated with messages of support.

He said his biggest achievement was has been developing a network of community and neighbourhood centres which were "unsurpassed anywhere in the north of England."

Former deputy leader, Kate Hollern, was nominated to replace Sir Bill at Blackburn Labour Party's AGM on Friday.

Coun Hollern, who held on to her Wensley Fold seat, said: "I am delighted but still in shock. The election was very positive for Labour in Blackburn with Darwen.

"We bucked the national trends and must move on positively. We want to carry on the good work that Bill started."