THE leader of Pendle Council has announced he will step down in May due to health reasons.

Coun Mike Blomeley, who represents the Reedley ward, will have served on the council for four years, and at the helm for two of them, when he stands down in May.

During his tenure, he said he has worked hard to ensure the council has provided services in light of Government funding cuts.

The Conservative councillor, who lives in Borrowdale Drive, Reedley, said: “It has been an incredible experience.

“It has been a lot of hard work and challenging at times but I think we have made some good progress.”

Up to his retirement, Coun Blomeley was operations director at a textile manufacturing firm in Bolton and was managing director of Hartley’s in Barnoldswick before that.

The married grandfather-of-one will continue to serve on Reedley Hallows Parish Council as he has for the past decade.

“I have got some health problems and I do not feel up to continuing,” he said.

“My group is aware that I’m intending to stand down and has been for some time.

“I hadn’t communicated it to anyone else because I didn’t feel it was necessary or appropriate.

“We still had a council to run and we have been doing that.”

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, leader of the Labour group in Pendle, said Coun Blomeley had done a good job weathering the financial storm.

“It has been quite refreshing working with Mike,” he added.

“He has always been amicable when assisting me and I wish him all the best for the future. I’m sure he will be a loss to Pendle Council.”