THE man heading the regeneration of Blackburn town centre has avoided an election confrontation with his staunchest critic after an 11th hour U-turn.

Just hours after nominations closed for the local elections in Blackburn with Darwen, town centre hairdresser Jeff Stone announced he was pulling out of the fight for Higher Croft.

Mr Stone's nomination placed him against executive member for regeneration, Ashley Whalley, who he has been at loggerheads with since proposals to pedestrianise Church Street, close to his Fleming Square shop, were unveiled.

The leader of the Conservative group, Coun Colin Rigby, said he had no idea about the decision but Conservative Association chairman Paul McGurty, himself an election candidate, said: "An announcement will be made on Tuesday."

Mr Stone stood in Higher Croft when one of the ward's other three seats was up for re-election last year and a council spokesman said that his nomination had not been retracted.

But he said he was standing down so that the vote against Labour wouldn't be split and added: "I have decided to withdraw my nomination so the people of Higher Croft have a real chance of changing the face of politics in Blackburn."

Coun Rigby said: "I know nothing about Jeff's decision. He is a good candidate who has worked very hard in that area."

Coun Whalley said: "I shall be fighting this election on the things I have done for this ward, not the town centre.

"I have worked hard as have my colleagues."

The Liberal Democrat candidate is Frederick Gollop, the only candidate to actually live within the ward.

Nominations for the elections closed at noon yesterday. Every ward except for one -- Whitehall in Darwen -- has a councillor up for re-election. Council leader Bill Taylor said: "We have put up candidates in every ward. We think it is right to do so because people deserve a choice."

Four members of the council's executive board are among those up for re-election, along with the Mayor, Coun John Williams.

And the Labour Party has also decided to field former Chamber of Trade President Ron O'Keeffe in Meadowhead ward. Coun Salas Kiani, a former mayor, is bowing out of politics in Audley, as is Conservative Abdul Bhikha in Shear Brow.

Yusuf Jan-Virmani, currently a councillor in Whitebirk, takes his place after switching wards.

Corporation Park has the most number of candidates, with an independent and a Green Party candidate giving the electors four people to choose from.

The election will be held on May 2. Labour has 37 seats on the council, the Conservatives 19 and the Lib Dems six.