A LABOUR councillor has announced she is joining the Liberal Democrat group after being dropped as Mayoress and left off a list of Labour candidates for the elections.

Councillor Kathleen Shore was a member of the Labour Party for more than 40 years and her switch reduces Labour's lead on Pendle Council to just two -- leaving Labour with 22, the Liberal Democrats with 20 and the Conservatives with nine.

She was elected to Colne Borough Council in 1969 and has served on Pendle Council for more than 18 years.

David Foster, who has chaired the Cloverhill Residents' Action Group since its creation six years ago, has also resigned from the Labour Party in protest over her treatment.

Coun Shore has been at odds with the Labour Party for some time and has recently chaired the council's licensing committee where many of her decisions have upset the party.

The Labour Party wrote to Coun Shore late last year informing her that she would not be selected as candidate in the May elections this year because she proposed a Conservative councillor to chair a local liaison committee, directly opposing a Labour nomination.

Coun Shore claimed last year that she was being gagged by the Labour Party from speaking about being dumped as the next mayor of the borough.

After preparing for the civic role for 12 months as deputy mayoress, Coun Fred Hartley chose his wife as his mayoress instead.

She said: "I am saddened by the attitude of the Labour Party, it is not the party I joined all those years ago. I can't conceive of a Labour Party that puts all power into one pair of hands and closes down nursery schools and old people's homes. It is time for me to join with people who care about local residents and genuinely put people first."

"Since I was elected to Pendle Council all I have ever wanted to do is make things better for the residents of Cloverhill. I have worked closely with Cloverhill Residents Action Group (CRAG) and together we have achieved much in the area. I wonder how much more we could have achieved if the other ward councillors had put in the same effort."

Mr Foster said: "Much of the work that CRAG has succeeded in has been because of Kath Shore's fighting spirit and I am proud to have worked with her over the years. I am appalled by the way that Kath has been treated by the Labour Party and I have resigned from the party in protest.

"I am keen to continue the work that CRAG and Kath Shore, as the ward councillor, have started and believe that I can do that by best by joining with her and supporting her in moving to the Liberal Democrats."

In a message to residents in her ward Coun Shore said: "I have decided to leave the Labour Party and join the Liberal Democrat Group on Pendle Council. I will continue to work for Clover Hill residents for the remainder of my present term of office."

Council leader Azhar Ali, said: "It is up to her to decide which party she wants to support."