HYNDBURN'S showpiece annual meeting descended into farce when the Labour Party tried to wrestle the leadership of the council from Conservative councillor Peter Britcliffe.

Labour members, angry about the Conservatives installing their own mayor after their nominated candidate, Councillor Wendy Dwyer, lost her seat at this month's elections, used a little-known council regulation to try and oust the man they hold responsible. Taking advantage of the absence of Conservative Coun John Griffiths -- which left each party with 17 votes -- and mustering the support of one third of the council from their own ranks, they forced a secret ballot on whether Coun Britcliffe should be leader.

Earlier they had block-voted against the nomination and election of new Mayor Coun Wyn Frankland and her deputy -- outgoing Mayor Tory Coun Sandra Hayes.

In both cases the proposals were pushed through with the mayor's casting vote.

The vote for Labour Coun Miles Parkinson as mayor designate was carried unanimously.

Only minutes into her year of office, Coun Frankland faced her first test when the secret ballot also went along party lines and she had to use her casting vote to keep her leader in office.

Coun Britcliffe said: "I can't believe the actions of the Labour Party tonight.

"I had a meeting with them and the agreement we had formed was that I would appoint a mayor designate and would not go back on my word.

"If there was a dispute, I had offered to start the meeting earlier when guests were not there.

"We kept our part of the bargain, then we had this nonsensical vote.

"In Hyndburn we have a leader and cabinet system not two separate things.

"They seem to have been voting for the leader of the council rather like an elected mayor."

Coun David Myles, deputy Labour leader, proposed the secret ballot.

He said: "You can now hold your head up high and say you have got the majority of the council by the casting vote of the mayor."

Coun Frankland said: "The whole thing was pointless.

"Even if the vote had gone against Coun Britcliffe it would have gone back to the group and he would have been the leader.

"The whole thing has been a waste of time."

Chief executive Mike Chambers, who leaves today, had to preside over the unusual ballot.

He said: "Democracy is at its absolute best when there is a small majority and over time, I'm sure we will see further evidence of that."

Both parties denied the squabble presented a welcome mat for the far right British National Party, who have already declared Hyndburn as a major target in next year's elections.

Coun Britcliffe said: "I don't think it gives any help to other parties.

"The Labour Party in Hyndburn have brought great discredit on themselves. It's not something we would have done.

"I feel very angry about the hijacking of what should be Hyndburn's showpiece meeting of the year.

"I hope it will backfire on them, their behaviour was absolutely disgusting."

Coun Frankland will have a Mayoress -- Susan Haworth -- and a consort, Ken Hargreaves.

Her nominated charities are Accrington Society for the Blind, and Bowley Scout Camp.

Outgoing Mayor Coun Sandra Hayes raised £11,000 for her charities during her term.