A TORY councillor is set to resign as chairman of the planning committee after accepting a job offer abroad.

Chris Wadsworth said he was to continue his role as a Hareholme ward councillor for the foreseeable future.

But his decision has been slammed by opposition councillors who said residents do not want a 'part-time' councillor.

The move could spark a second by-election in Rossendale if the councillor steps down, months after the Valley's youngest-ever councillor, Tory Emily Haworth resigned after taking a job in Liverpool.

The seat was won by Conservative Tony Swain, despite a closely fought battle with Labour's Nick Pilling.

Coun Wadsworth, chairman of the development control committee, said he would be relinquishing his position at the end of the year after accepting a job with an international company based in Belgium.

The Conservatives currently have 24 seats, Labour have nine and the Liberal Democrats and the Independent Party have one seat each.

The Hareholme ward councillor said: "I think it is only right that I step down as chairman of the development control committee in the first instance.

"In terms of my council seat, I have spoken with the leader of the council and have undertaken to resign my seat when I have settled into my new job.

"I hope the electorate of Hareholme will understand."

Coun Wadsworth defeated long-serving Labour councillor and former council leader Graham Pearson in the local elections.

He added: "After the level of support I received in June, I owe it to all the electorate to attend all the council meetings I am able to.

"I am certainly not selling up and leaving Rossendale for good."

Alan Neal, an Independent councillor and former Mayor of Whitworth, said: "The residents don't want a part-time councillor.

"They want somebody who is able to represent their needs and I'm not sure if that can be done when you're working in another country.

"It will be interesting to see what's going to happen on the development control committee."

Conservative leader of the council, Peter Steen said: "It's a very frustrating time, as we will be sad to lose such an experienced councillor and don't particularly want to have another by-election.

"His main job comes first."