THE NEW leader of Burnley Council was expected to be announced today with the shortest odds on former mayor Gordon Birtwistle.

The council has been without a leader, or ruling executive, since last week's elections left no party in overall control, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats tied on 16 seats each.

Talks between the parties have been held since the poll to try to resolve the deadlock over who should take the reins.

A meeting today was expected to reach a decision.

The most likely outcome is a coalition between the Liberal Democrats, the joint largest party, and the Conservatives, who have five.

But the delay has been down to wrangling over how many seats each party would get on the executive, the decision-making body of the authority.

The deadlock follows last week's local elections which left previous ruling party Labour weakened after losing five of their 21 seats, and the Liberal Democrats hugely strengthened by gaining five seats.

Labour lost their party leader and leader of the council Stuart Caddy in the poll, as well as long-serving member Peter Kenyon.

A Burnley Council spokesman said: "The council will be meeting on May 18 to formally appoint a new leader, executive, individual committees and the chairs and vice-chairs of those committees.

"In the meantime there are ongoing discussions being held between the leaders of each political group represented on the council and the council's management team.

"This is with a view to arriving at proposals to be considered by the meeting on May 18."