A TOWN mayor who walked out of a social event is asking for clear dividing lines between the duties of civic leaders.

Clitheroe Mayor John McGowan arrived at Trinity Youth and Community Centre in Clitheroe to present certificates to youngsters with learning difficulties who work for the ground-breaking Jigsaw Partnership.

But when he arrived he discovered Ribble Valley Mayor Dave Smith had also been invited to perform the same task.

The Jigsaw Partnership is one of Coun Smith's chosen charities, but Coun McGowan is chairman of its steering committee.

Coun McGowan said the time had come to look at the duties and responsibilities of the town and borough mayors and draw some dividing lines.

"I have nothing against the Ribble Valley mayoralty and certainly nothing against Coun Smith, but it gets a bit much when you have two mayors at the same function performing the same task. "I am chairman of the Jigsaw Partnership and didn't feel it necessary to have two mayors in attendance.

" I accept the need for the borough to have a mayor, but perhaps we need to take a close look at who does what," he said.

He added: "I left the event because there was no need for two mayors to be there and it was pointless me staying."

The decision to retain town mayors for Clitheroe and Longridge was made when the Ribble Valley borough was formed under local government reorganisation in 1974.

Ribble Valley Mayor Dave Smith said he was mystified as to why the Coun McGowan had walked out of the event.

"I really don't know why he left. I haven't got a clue, so I am not in a position to comment any further, other than to say we have both attended civic events over the years and have got on very well together," he said.

Trinity Centre manager Geoff Jackson said he had no comment to make and suggested the press concentrate on the prize-winners, instead.

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