A MAYOR and council officials are maintaining a silence over Sunday newspaper allegations about his personal life.

Pendle county councillor Colin Waite was at the launch of new buses in Colne yesterday -- his first local public engagement since being featured in the News of the World two weeks ago.

But the 45-year-old deputy council leader decided the bus event was not the platform for a statement on his personal life and whether it affected his ability to be civic leader.

Coun Waite was brought in after Labour colleague Fred Hartley stepped down as mayor after only a month, following a widely publicised split with his wife and news that he was the subject of a police investigation,

The councillor who was known as "the smiling mayor" because of his beaming grin during his first term of office three years ago, became grim-faced when asked about the newspaper allegations.

And the man who runs a mobile wet fish round in Nelson refused to comment when told of demands by toilet cleansing manager Coun Hartley that he should stand down and allow him to take back the mayoralty after he was cleared by police.

"No comment" was the only response to all questions.

Since the newspaper claims appeared, Coun Waite -- elected to replace Coun Hartley because he was seen as "a safe pair of hands" who would bring dignity back to the mayoralty -- had not been available for comment.

He did not answer telephone calls, he failed to respond to messages and was never at home when the Lancashire Evening Telegraph called round.

Coun Hartley, who left his wife and two children and quit the family home in Townhouse Road, Nelson, shortly after becoming first citizen, is threatening legal action to recover the mayoralty.

Pendle council executives have declined to comment on the allegations surrounding Coun Waite, who represents Nelson's Clover Hill ward, but Labour Group and council leader, Azhar Ali has given his deputy his full backing.