A TORY councillor who was urged to quit by his party leader after he moved out of the area has clung on to his party membership.

But Coun Graham Pound could still face losing the party whip on Blackburn with Darwen Council if his colleagues feel he does not fulfil a pledge to spend more time in his ward.

The Corporation Park councillor has moved to Manchester and intends to go to university there -- which would make him ineligible for next year's local elections.

Coun Pound's e-mail said he felt he could not justify receiving "£350 a month of taxpayers' money."

His decision to stay came in the run up to a battle for the leadership of the Tory group, in which Coun Colin Rigby defeated a challenge from Coun Alan Cottam.

And it emerged he had been urged to stay on in order to vote for Coun Cottam by former mayor, Coun John Williams.

Blackburn Conservative Association -- the organisation which picks candidates for all the Blackburn wards -- has now met to discuss whether to expel him.

But members voted to give Coun Pound one more chance, and Blackburn Conservative Association chairman Joe Smith claimed they felt it was the best decision for voters in Corporation Park.

Mr Smith said: "We accept there have been problems with Graham Pound.

"However, since they came to light we have received reassurances that the problems Graham was going through have been sorted out.

"He has promised to spend a considerable amount of his time in Blackburn and we feel keeping him in the party is the best thing for the electorate."

Coun Pound was unavailable for comment.