THE Green candidate who inadvertently helped kicked Labour out of office in Hyndburn today admitted: "I used to vote for them!"

Fireman Ian Dixon, left, helped the Tories win control of the borough council after splitting the vote in the crucial Barnfield ward in Accrington.

He immediately said he regretted the result because the Labour Party had a better record on green issues.

Ian, of Sandy Lane, Accrington, polled 545 votes, which led to mayor-elect Wendy Dwyer losing her seat to first-time Tory candidate Paul Barton.

The ward was a crucial one and the Conservative Party took control of the council by one seat, 18 to 17.

Mr Dixon admitted he had helped defeat the Labour party, who he used to vote for, and said it was a double edged celebration for him.

He said: " The Labour Party do have a better record of funding environmental groups such as Groundwork East Lancashire and the Prospects Foundation in Hyndburn, which are both groups that work to better the environment for people with practical measures on the ground.

"Obviously I'm concerned about letting the Tories in but it only needs to be for one year."

Mr Dixon said he stopped voting Labour because of the war in Iraq, the firefighters' dispute and sell-offs of public services to the private sector.

He is now launching a recruitment drive to find new candidates for the Green Party for next year's elections across East Lancashire, to capitalise on voters disillusioned with the two main parties.

"There's no real choice nationally. The Labour Party and Conservatives are talking the same kind of language. There's nobody putting an alternative view forward for people.

"That's the reason the BNP are doing so well. I'm hoping to come forward with a positive view as opposed to the politics of hate and fear that the BNP put forward."

Mr Dixon was just 79 votes from winning the seat and says he will spend the next year building on his vote.

"It's an excellent start but it's just a double-edged thing about giving control to the Conservative Party.

"But I don't think it's a good enough excuse to stop. I was testing the water for the Green Party and I proved to be very welcome on the doorstep. I found the water to be warm and inviting."

He will also be issuing a newsletter to residents in the Barnfield ward in the next few weeks pointing out some of the concerns voiced during his campaigning.

He said: "There's a green councillor in Manchester who got in this time. Last time she stood she missed out by 89 votes and the Green Party has targeted that ward, pouring in resources and backing, and she has got in.

"I'm hoping that the national party will sit up and notice the start I have made here and do something and really work very hard to get the seat next year."

On Monday Mr Dixon will be trying to recruit new members at a rally in Burnley's Towneley Park from 11.30am.