A LEADING councillor who called staff at Blackburn with Darwen "a load of rubbish" is unlikely to face disciplinary action after he claimed to have been misquoted.

Coun Paul Browne was left facing the prospect of being hauled before a standards panel after UNISON, the union which represents many council staff, complained about his comments in a letter to chief executive, Phil Watson.

Council leader Sir Bill Taylor also wrote to Coun Browne to inform him of UNISON's letter and to ask him to withdraw his comments.

The Darwen councillor, who is also leader of the Liberal Democrat group in the council, sparked outrage at the town hall when he called staff "a load of rubbish."

He was speaking after Blackburn with Darwen launched a customer service award where votes for the best municipal workers were sought from inside the council.

Coun Browne said he was merely reflecting the views of people in his ward and added: "I am going to stand by what I said and if I have to go before a standards board I will tell them the same thing."

But at a recent meeting Coun Browne claimed he had been misquoted and denied ever making the comments. He said: "What I said was I could hand out awards for my business but other people might think Paul Browne was a load of rubbish."

A council spokesman said Coun Browne was now unlikely to be called before a standards panel because an official complaint had not been made. But Coun Taylor said he still wants his council counterpart to reply to his letter.

Don Clarkson, a UNISON spokesman, confirmed he had not sent an official complaint, explaining: "If the council tell us they are satisfied he was misquoted, we will then decide our next course of action."