MYSTERY surrounds a decision by a Labour councillor from Blackburn to suspend himself from the ruling party at the town hall.

Little Harwood with Whitebirk councillor Jan Virmani (pictured) has confirmed he has suspended himself from the party and has not been attending committee meetings.

His ward colleagues Couns Frank Gorton and Dorothy Greenwood have been attending meetings instead of him.

Coun Virmani would only say that reasons for his self imposed suspension were "purely personal." He also refused to reveal when his suspension began and what needs to happen for him to re-admit himself to the Labour group.

Labour leader Coun Malcolm Doherty said: "It is true that Coun Virmani has suspended himself but I am not at liberty to say why. I have no comment to make on the situation."

Coun Virmani is chairman of the audit sub-committee and vice-chairman of the finance committee.

He is the man behind plans to convert the former Barge Inn at Higher Audley into a conference centre, although this is not believed to be behind his self-imposed exile.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.