A LABOUR councillor is continuing to represent Cliviger and Worsthorne - even though he now lives in Scotland.

College lecturer Roger Craig sold his house in Burnley and moved to Edinburgh after getting a new job in the Scottish capital.

But town hall chiefs say they have not received his resignation and as far as they are concerned, the vice-chairman of the public protection committee is continuing to serve as a councillor.

Today Liberal Democrat leader Gordon Birtwistle described the situation as "deplorable" and accused Labour of an election ploy. He said: "He can't represent anyone in Burnley from Edinburgh - it is a farce.

"He knew he was going months ago and his party should have accepted his resignation to allow an election at next month's municipal polls.

"By delaying the resignation it means there will have to be a later by-election in the ward and that will cost the town £2,000 to run."

"The people of the area should be properly represented." Coun Birtwistle claimed Labour's election machine was already overstretched because it was fighting every ward in the town - two of them "double-header" wards where they already had to field two candidates.

"I believe they have held back the resignation because they feared they would lose the seat," he said.

But Labour group secretary Coun Peter Kenyon described Coun Birtwistle's claims as nonsense.

"There was certainly no political ploy," he said.

"The fact is Roger Craig notified us too late for there to be a vacancy in this set of elections.

"We have received his resignation, but I am not aware whether the town hall has received notification. There is absolutely nothing untoward about it."

A Burnley Council spokesman said the town hall was aware of Coun Craig's move and had his new address.

He had told officers he would call in to collect his correspondence and council papers from time to time

There was no legal requirement for the councillor to resign because he had left the town, but if he failed to attend meetings for six months his membership of the council would fall by default.

Talks had been held with Coun Craig, his resignation was expected and a casual vacancy would be called.

Coun Craig was elected to represent Cliviger and Worsthorne - currently an all-Labour ward - in 1995 and is not due for re-election until May next year.

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