THE battle in the forthcoming Rossendale by-election is to be fought between a Labour and Tory candidate.

The Liberal Democrats, who planned to field Michael Carr as their candidate for the Longholme ward of Rawtenstall, missed the deadline - leaving the battle to the rival parties.

Sparked by the departure of Rossendale Council's youngest ever councillor, Emily Haworth, Nick Pilling will be standing as Labour's candidate after being defeated at this year's local elections.

Emily, 22, a Tory councillor, resigned from the post after taking a job in Liverpool where she had been spending time at university.

Now 55-year-old Nick Pilling, of Rawtenstall, is using his 18 years of council experience as a tool to claw his way back to the post.

He said: "I have got lots of experience and think that I still have something to offer, particularly in an authority where there are a lot of members with very limited experience. It's important that Rossendale continues on the improvement plan that has been set out to improve services to the public and I look forward to being able to play a part in that."

Rumours that the BNP were to field a candidate have been rejected with a party spokesman adding: "It's not viable for us to field a candidate in this area at this moment in time."

And Rossendale businessman, 37-year-old Tony Swain, will be the man to fight Nick Pilling as the Conservative Party candidate for the forthcoming by-election.

It is the first time the IT consultant has stood for the council. He said: "I am not one for party politics but I do feel strongly about Rossendale and I feel proud to be given this chance to make a positive difference to the local community."

Tony, who has worked in Australia, the United States as well as all over the UK, has an office on Bank Street in Rawtenstall.

The LibDems could be holding their own inquiry into how they missed the opportunity to field a candidate.

LibDem Councillor Philip Young said: "The dates got confused, which unfortunately led us to miss the deadline."

The by-election is due to be held at the Astoria in Rawtenstall on September 30.