FORMER Mayor of Rossendale David Hancock is the new leader of the council.

Coun Hancock has taken the reins after former leader Graham Pearson announced he was stepping down because of ill health.

Mr Hancock, the Labour member for Whitewell, was voted in by a large majority at a special meeting of Rossendale Council last night.

Coun Alyson Barnes was voted in as deputy leader after surviving a vote prompted by the Conservatives, nominating Coun Neil Smith as deputy.

Irwell Conservative Coun Peter Steen said having Neil Smith, the leader of the Tory Group, as deputy would have been an ideal way to show the public the council was working together.

However councillors voted by 17 votes to 14 against Coun Smith and by 18 to 14 in favour of Coun Barnes.

After the meeting Coun Hancock said he was looking forward to facing the challenge of leading an authority recovering from being named as the worst in the country.

He said: "I am delighted that I have been elected, although it is not a post I would have sought if Graham had been fit to continue.

"Now I am in the job, I am looking forward to the challenge and to carrying forward the improvements we have strated to make to the council."