LARGER than life cafe owner Mike Norris says he aims to put some dignity back in to local politics.

Now the Tyldesley businessman is standing as an Independent in Hindsford ward in the coming local elections.

But Mr Norris, who runs Frank's Cafe in Tyldesley, says if he is elected it would be his intention to complete only one term of office in which he he would work tirelessly to bring investment and jobs back to the area.

The Tyldesley and District Partnership chairman, who has a long history of promoting schemes to improve the Tyldesley area, said: "Local politics are similar to a dice, each candidate represented by a different face, but at the end of the day it is still a dice.

"Recent by-elections have been marred by allegations and innuendos. The time has come to put some decorum and integrity back into the electoral process. The public should cast votes on the merits of those standing, not on the dirt that has been thrown."

Short-term targets, he says, are to stop housing development proposals on Robinson Street car park, to install lighting on car parks and seek ways of improving car parking facilities at Atherton rail station. Mr Norris, who is acting as his own agent, says: "It is about time your local councillor had access to sufficient funds to improve his ward.

"The current level of funding is only £3,333 a year from the Brighter Borough Fund. This needs raising to at least £10,000 per councillor.

"The only way for this to happen would be for a large number of you to write to Lord Peter Smith, Leader of Wigan Council, and make your views known."