A FORMER Mayor of Burnley who quit after being convicted of gross indecency today pledged to campaign for equality for the gay community.

And Peter Swainston, who has been elected to head Burnley Council's drive for fair deals for minority groups in the town, said: "Gay people should be treated equally".

He has been nominated by fellow Labour councillors to become new chairman of the equal opportunities sub-committee - a role expected to be rubber-stamped by the full council next week.

The former milkman quit as civic leader last year after being convicted of gross indecency with another man in public toilets in Nelson.

It will be the first chairmanship after more than 20 years of council service for the man who "came out" last month and told the council: "I am proud of being gay."

And today, bachelor Coun Swainston said winning equal treatment for the gay community would be part of the "big job to be done".

He said: "Gay people should be treated equally. There is prejudice and they have the right to expect equality - they pay their taxes like everyone else." Coun Swainston, who was replaced as vice-chairman of the public protection committee a year ago following his court appearance, said there were many areas of life in Burnley where equal opportunities had a vital role to play - not least help for the disabled and the Asian community.

He paid tribute to the work of his predecessor, Wendy Croft, who had pioneered the work of equal opportunities until her retirement from the council this month.

"I am very pleased at being chosen by my fellow councillors and hope I can make a real contribution," he said.

"I feel it is a vote of confidence in me."

His nomination came at the annual meeting of Burnley's ruling Labour group which saw council leader for four years, Kath Reade, ousted by her main rival, postman Stuart Caddy.

East Lancashire's longest-serving Asian councillor, Rafique Malik, became deputy leader, replacing Paul Smith, who says he may now leave the council. The secretary's post stays with Peter Kenyon, and John Harbour of Padiham takes over as group chairman from Pat Bennet.

Group whip is Lilian Clark, replacing Eric Selby, who takes on the non-political role of Mayor next week.

Nominations for major committees are follows:

Policy and resources - chairman, Stuart Caddy, vice-chairman, Rafique Malik. Planning - chairman, Steve Large, vice-chairman, John Greenwood. Recreation and leisure - chairman, Barry Guttridge, vice-chairman, John Harbour. Public protection - chairman, Philip Walsh, vice-chairman, Martine Winder. Housing - chairman, Rafique Malik, vice-chairman, Don Hall; Equal opportunities - chairman, Peter Swainston, vice-chairman, Mohammed Najib. Economic and property - chairman, Tony Harrison, vice-chairman, Marion Smith. General purposes - chairman, Don Hall, vice-chairman, Beryl Barnes.

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