A HINDSFORD councillor has quit because he says he is no longer able to juggle council business with his full time job.

Labour councillor Graham Lingings decided to end his civic duties after shift patterns within his civil service job changed.

He said: "I am leaving purely because of my full time employment.There's nothing dramatic. There is no hidden agenda, that's it in a nutshell. I have decided someone should take my place who is a bit more flexible and has more time to give."

He added he no longer has the time to attend council meetings and serve his constituents and was unable to change the shift patterns at his workplace.

Mr Lingings said: "I would like to have stayed but it has just become impossible. I feel sorry but I cannot do it. I am sorry for my constituents for having to leave early."

Mr Lingings has represented Hindsford ward since 1999. Initially he stood for the Liberal Democrats but defected to Labour last year--a decision which he maintains he has no regrets about.

And he says there are many aspects of his role as councillor that he will miss.

He said: "I will miss the personal contact with constituents and people in the community. And I will miss working with the officers within the authority. "

Suitable candidate

The search is now on for a suitable candidate to replace Mr Lingings and a by-election will be held soon--although no date has yet been set.

Mr Lingings said: "It has been an interesting job and I would recommend it to anyone--especially to younger people."

But he has not ruled out a return to local government.

He said: "I retire from my job in six years time so it's something I could look at."

Coun Peter Smith, leader of the Wigan Council, said: "Graham found difficulty in managing to do his council work and his job, and obviously he had to make a decision to keep his job.

"It is a problem for a number of people who have to try and balance two different lives. He has made a decision which he thinks is in the best interests of local people. I wish him and his family well."

But Hindsford Coun Robert Bleakley, said he was "delighted" that Mr Lingings had resigned.

Coun Bleakley said: "I am delighted that he has seen fit to resign. He should have done this when he defected. It's great to see the back of him."

He added: "I still feel betrayed by him. I feel he stabbed me in the back. He was elected as Liberal Democrat not Labour."