FORMER British National Party councillor Maureen Stowe has completed a remarkable political u-turn after announcing today she has joined the Labour Party.

The move means Coun Stowe, who was elected as a BNP councillor in Brunshaw last May, has moved from the extreme right to the left of the political spectrum in just over a year.

She quit the far-right party in February to become an independent.

Coun Stowe, 65, of Athens View, Burnley said she took the decision following Labour's mauling at last week's local elections.

She said she felt guilty about joining the BNP and wanted to make amends for her decision.

She said: "Labour has done a lot of good work in Burnley and seeing them suffer at the elections was very sad, especially seeing people like John Harbour, who has worked very hard, lose his seat.

"I'd like to do what I can to help them get back on track and work for the people of Burnley.

"I should never have joined the BNP in the first place and I'd like to try and make amends. This is the best way I can think of doing that."

Despite Maureen Stowe's defection, Labour still has no overall majority in the council chamber. They have 22 members with a total opposition of 23.

The political make-up of Burnley Council is set to be changed following the party's loss of power in Thursday's local elections - but party leaders have told the far-right BNP there is no place for them.

Meetings of the main parties will take place this week to discuss how many places each should be given on the executive, the main decision-making body of the council.

A final meeting to decide the make up of the executive will then be held on June 24.

Labour lost control of Burnley Council after failing to cling onto its one-seat majority.

The party still has the largest number of seats but, after losing two to the Liberal Democrats and one to the BNP, does not have enough to hang onto power at the town hall.

The Lib Dems remain the second largest party and are in a strong position after taking seats in Lanehead and Queensgate from Labour.

The BNP started the night confident that it would increase its representation on the council by three or four seats. But Hapton with Park was its only gain of the night and this was effectively cancelled out after it lost its seat in Cliviger with Worsthorne to the Conservatives.

The nine member executive is currently made up entirely of Labour councillors but after the loss of power the Lib Dems could take up to three positions. Coun Stuart Caddy will remain as leader.

He said: "We have met as group leaders and each party will go away to decide what they want to do.

"I can say for certain that we do not want the British National Party on the executive. We have absolutely no intention of doing deals with them.

"They have positions on other committees and outside bodies and we won't be asking them to take any further positions."