BLACKBURN with Darwen Council's outgoing chief executive has compared the attitude of people in the borough to that of grumpy TV character Victor Meldrew.

Phil Watson said people in the borough had a tendency to do the place down in similar fashion to the whingeing lead character in the BBC's former hit series, One Foot in the Grave, whose catch phrase was "I don't believe it".

But he insisted Blackburn had an awful lot going for it - because officials met the challenge of pleasing the town's "hard-headed" residents.

Mr Watson, 60, officially retires today after 37 years' service to the borough - his entire career.

He has been chief executive since 1998 when the council became a unitary authority.

Graham Burgess, director of regeneration, takes over the top job.

He has worked at the council in his current role since 1998 and has overseen the gradual regeneration of the borough.

In his last interview Mr Watson outlined the best and the worst of his home town.

He said: "What's not so good, I think, is sometimes there's a tendency for people to have low expectations.

"It is possible for kids from poor or difficult backgrounds to progress."

He said it was up to the council to show leadership and demonstrate what people could have, which he claimed was often beyond their wildest dreams.

"But there's a tendency to talk the place down to outsiders and people start to believe it.

"To me the Victor Meldrew mindset is not helpful." he added.

"But there's an awful lot going for the place.

"It's a compact town, not far away from the countryside.

"In spite of what people might think there's no congestion compared to places like Manchester."

One Foot in the Grave ran from 1990 to 2000. It was one of the BBC's most successful comedies - the Christmas in 1993 edition topped 20 million viewers.

Cantankerous Victor Meldrew, played by Richard Wilson, was famous for complaining.

Mr Watson added: "Blackburn people are hard-headed though and won't have the wool pulled over their eyes, but that is a positive because it makes it a challenge."

He paid tribute to the 7,000 staff at the council for their support over the years.

"I have been particularly moved by the good wishes from members of the council and staff at all levels, and people who have stopped me in the street to wish me well," he added.

Mr Watson said he would continue to work in the public sector as a consultant on national, regional and local issues.