A LABOUR councillor who squeezed on to Pendle Council with a wafer-thin 18-vote majority has decided not to stand for re-election next May.

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, who represents Whitefield ward in Nelson, cited work and personal reasons.

Coun Iqbal, a county council youth and community worker based at Nelson Youth Centre, said: "There is a lot of pressure on being a councillor and it takes up a lot of time.

"I've enjoyed my time as a councillor but I feel there's not enough money to go round to tackle the problems in this area, particularly in my ward which is one of the most deprived in Lancashire."

Coun Iqbal, of Hargreaves Street, Nelson, was on a pilgrimage to Mecca when he heard he had scraped in as ward councillor in 1994.

Colleague Coun Martin Short resigned last month because he got a new job in the Midlands.

A by-election to fill his Marsden ward vacancy is expected next month.

Last night, the local Labour group selected Dorothy Ormrod as its candidate. She is women's officer for the Pendle Labour Party.

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