A BURNLEY councillor is facing calls for her resignation after moving more than 30 miles away from her ward.

Labour's Caroline Kavanagh, who represents Bank Hall in the town, has left her home in Hart Street to go to Wigan in Greater Manchester.

The move, at a time when every seat is vital on the hung council, has upset rival political groups and residents in her ward.

Figures for last year show Coun Kavanagh had the worstattendance record of any councillor - although Labour leaders have insisted she would be able to offer a better service because of a change in her personal circumstances.

But former Labour mayor Irene Cooney, who lives in Bank Hall, said she saw little enough of Coun Kavanagh as it was.

She added: "How can she represent us when she's not in the ward, not even in the town? It doesn't make sense. You've got to know your ward if you want to work it and help people. What if I had a problem? I can't go to Wigan. I think she should stand down."

Mrs Cooney said there might be another reason for Coun Kavanagh not standing down - she is needed to bolster Labour's numbers. The party has 21 out of 45 seats which means it can be out-voted by other parties joining together.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Coun Gordon Birtwistle, said: "She should resign from the council and we should have a by-election in Bank Hall so the people of the ward can be served by a councillor who actually lives in or near their ward and is fully aware of the problems in that area."

Tory leader Coun Peter Doyle said: "This is disgraceful. Although there is nothing in the rules to prevent her remaining a councillor, that would be the moral stance."

He said when Tory councillor Jo Challinor moved away from the area last year, the Conservatives had decided she should resign and a by-election held.

Council rules state that to stand for election, a candidate must be on the electoral roll, have lived in the borough within 12 months before nomination, own land or property in the borough or have their primary place of work in the borough.

They make no provision for councillors moving away from the area other than that they must attend a set number of meetings.

Coun Kavanagh was last elected in May 2002 and is due to retire in 2007. She sits on three committees, the appeals committee, the leadership scrutiny committee and the environment scrutiny committee.

Figures for last year show she had just 25 per cent attendance from April 2003 to June 2004.

She was present at six out of 10 full council meetings, but attended just one of the nine licensing committee meetings and failed to go to any of the eight environment scrutiny meetings.

Labour leader Coun Stuart Caddy said: "Caroline is attending more meetings than ever and is dedicating more time than ever to her ward. She has my full support and I am delighted with the work she is doing."

The Evening Telegraph spent four days trying to reach Coun Kavanagh without success.