A FORMER mayor who had a series of run-ins with Labour council bosses today hit out after being dumped by his party ahead of this year's elections.

Peter Greenwood, who was awarded a CBE in 1998 for his service to local government, said he thought Labour party leaders in Blackburn with Darwen would be "pleased" about his deselection.

He said: "I don't believe they would have done anything to assist me, and may even behind the scenes have encouraged people to stand against me."

In a ballot to select their candidate for this May's elections, 44 members of the party's Audley branch voted for their chairman, Tahir Hussain, and only six for Coun Greenwood. From this May he will no longer be representing Audley for the Labour party, where he has been councillor for 18 years. He said he was now considering standing as an independent.

Coun Greenwood, who has in recent years opposed the ruling Labour party in several high-profile cases, including the transfer to a leader and cabinet-style of local government and controversial plans for Blackburn town centre, said he was "shocked" and "disappointed" at being dropped. He said: "I was not naive enough to think it couldn't happen, and I know there were moves afoot, but I thought my experience would get me through."

Last year Coun Don Rishton and Coun Greenwood were temporarily suspended from the Labour party after they opposed plans for a cabinet style of local government. Their appeals against the suspension were upheld and they were reinstated to the party.

Coun Rishton said the departure of the former mayor and leader of the council was "a significant move", adding: "It's a shock."

Dorothy Walsh, chairman of the Labour party's Local Government Committee, said the selection was "the members' decision". She added: "It was all done democratically."

Fellow Audley councillor Bill Taylor would not comment except to say Coun Greenwood has a "strong tradition both locally and nationally".

The leader of the Labour-dominated council, Malcolm Doherty, denied any top-level conspiracy.

He said: "Peter has been over the years a good servant to this group and town, and a good ward councillor, and it's sad when this happens. But it does happen in politics." He said he was "not glad" Coun Greenwood had gone. He said: "I think there was a feeling around that he might have a problem, but we have had that feeling in different parts of the town before over the years and it has not happened."

He said the party leadership had not tried to influence local members in the Audley ward to support Coun Greenwood because it could be "counter productive". He added: "I would be very disappointed if he stood as an independent but that is entirely a matter for him."