BLACKBURN'S education boss has survived a challenge for his post controlling the borough's schools.

Bastwell Labour councillor Mahfooz Hussain had to contest a rival bid for the education and lifelong learning portfolio at Blackburn with Darwen Council Labour group's annual selection meeting last night.

But Labour councillors defied the preferred list set out by group leaders and voted Coun Hussain, who has done the job for two years, back into his role.

Labour sources claimed there were three councillors standing against Coun Hussain.

Plans tabled by Coun Hussain - and instigated by council leader Bill Taylor three years ago when he was education boss - to create a Muslim faith school in the borough divided the Labour Party, with a sizeable group of councillors opposed to the creation of any more religion-based schools.

It was only passed when four of the Labour councillors abstained from voting at the executive board.

But Coun Taylor today refused to be drawn on whether the team that will now make up his cabinet was the same as those the Labour group had recommended to councillors.

He said: "That is a private matter for us as a group. I am pleased with the team we have assembled for the next 12 months.

"There are challenges ahead of us and I am confident that I have a team which will deal with them very well."

Coun Mohammed Khan, in charge of housing and neighbourhood services, has been promoted to deputy leader.

He fills the vacancy left by Coun Sue Reid, who has quit her senior post to concentrate on her professional career.

Coun Khan keeps his portfolio, while Coun Maureen Bateson moves from citizens and consumer rights to social services, Coun Reid's old portfolio.

Former planning and highways committee chairman, Frank Connor, is the only new face on the executive board.

He takes up Coun Bateson's old post.

Coun Dave Smith will become the new planning and highways chairman.

The councillors will officially take up their new positions on May 15, when annual council is held.

The executive board is responsible for all the policy decisions the council makes and is subject to scrutiny by back bench councillors from all parties.

Coun Taylor said: "We were very sorry to lose Sue but we respect her decision.

"I feel social services is in a safe pair of hands with Maureen, who has proved she is tough when she has to be but also sensitive with it.

"I welcome Frank on to the executive board as well. He has proved himself as a dedicated councillor with his work on planning."