PRESTON mayor-elect Veronica Afrin could have the mayoral chains snatched from her before she even reaches office after calls to invite an opposition councillor to be the town's first Citizen.

Coun Veronica Afrin had been pencilled to become the town's Millennium Mayor, succeeding Coun Rose Kinsella later this month.

But following last week's local elections - and the political manoeuvring which has left no party with overall control - Coun Afrin could find herself watching another councillor being installed as mayor.

Because Labour no longer has control, the party's choice of mayor could be overruled if the opposition parties - who have a combined majority of one - back Conservative councillor Geoff Swarbrick in the race to become the town's first citizen.

Voting will take place later this month and Coun Swarbrick has already been promised the support of his own party and the Liberal Democrat, plus independent councillors.

Coun Swarbrick said: "I feel this would a wonderfully great honour and I would be delighted to accept the role."

Coun Afrin has always been aware of the risk that she may never make to the post of mayor if the election results didn't go Labour's way.

It has been a generally accepted fact in the Town Hall for some time that she would be the town's Millennium Mayor, even after she was forced to stand for re-election when a bankruptcy order was placed against her - which was later annulled, allowing her to stand for election again.

She was unavailable for comment this week, but last month she told the Citizen: "If I can be mayor it will a wonderful opportunity which I will relish.

"There is so much going for Preston and I would love to lead it into the new Millennium."

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