RADCLIFFE voters will definitely be going to the polls on May 3 after the resignation of a local councillor.

Labour member Tony Watmough, who has represented Radcliffe South for the last two years, is stepping down because of work commitments.

A by-election has now been called, which could mean that residents in the ward will have two ballot papers to fill in on May 3, if the Government does indeed call a General Election on that day.

The former Bury College executive has been appointed the first director of the Association of Colleges (AoC) North West, which represents more than 60 colleges throughout the region. Mr Watmough, of Bury New Road, Whitefield, is a member of Radcliffe Area Board and serves on the health, housing and social services scrutiny and review panel.

He was a councillor in Chorley for 15 years before coming to Bury.

Mr Watmough said that his new job involved extensive travelling across the region and the UK, which made it impossible for him to give enough commitment to his council work.

"I'm quite sorry to go," he said. "I've enjoyed my two years and it's a shame to finish before I had completed a full four-year term. But people need someone who can devote the time and energy to the job."

Council leader Derek Boden said that Mr Watmough had made his mark during his brief council service in Bury.

"He's got a very good analytical and incisive mind which can cut through the jargon that sometimes surrounds issues of public policy and get to the nub of it," he said.

"This helped him have an impact on scrutiny and review, where he was ideally equipped to carry out that role.

"He has been a great asset to the Labour group and to the council."