A CONTROVERSIAL election candidate in Hyndburn has shown his green bottle by warning the two main parties he is coming to fight.

Ian Dixon is standing for the second year running as Green Party candidate in the Barnfield ward next month.

Last year he was accused of giving control of Hyndburn Council to the Conservatives when standing candidate and mayor elect Wendy Dwyer lost her seat to Tory Paul Barton.

The votes in the crucial Barnfield ward had to be recounted and the result swung the one-seat advantage from Labour to Conservative. Mr Dixon polled 545 votes, only 78 less than Coun Barton.

Control in the borough has been nip and tuck since the council's seats were reduced by nearly a quarter from 47 to 35 because of boundary changes in 2002.

This year with both parties defending six seats each Mr Dixon has already rattled the two main parties who fear he could split the vote in the other's favour again.

Today the Hyndburn firefighter said: "I'm not there to split the vote - I'm there because I think I have a good chance of winning.

"I was only 78 votes short last year - they are splitting my vote."

Standing against him will be Conservative Councillor Tony Dobson who currently holds the seat, and former council road sweeper Gerald Newton for the Labour group.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "If people wish to vote green then by voting Conservative in Hyndburn they will be voting for a party with a wonderful track record. We have more than hit the recycling targets and are well on the way to fulfilling all the objectives we have."

Labour leader Jean Battle said: "I don't think he has a chance of winning and I don't think we have anything to fear from the Green Party. A lot of their policies are already in the Labour policies. He hasn't come up with anything different. On green issues we are as good if not better than the Green Party."