THE former leader of Rossendale Council has targeted a return to the council chambers after suffering a stroke.

But 57-year-old David Hancock revealed he would be spending his time resting and recuperating by watching the World Cup on television first!

Speaking from his bed at Fairfield Hospital in Bury the long-standing Waterfoot councillor and Labour Party leader in the borough said: "I've got a sack of council papers beside me to go through.

"I'll definitely be back, there's no question about it.

"Also this gives me some time off to watch the World Cup, so I'm going to enjoy that."

Coun Hancock lost the feeling in the right hand side of his body two weeks ago when he suffered the mini stroke.

He said: "I'd been out campaigning on the Saturday and when I woke up on the Sunday morning I felt a bit rough, a bit groggy.

"I didn't do anything on the Sunday and I went to bed early but when I woke up on the Monday morning I couldn't even take a cup of tea up to my wife."

He has regained 50 per cent feeling in his leg and his speech has improved dramatically.

And he thanked everyone who voted for him and helped him get re-elected at this year's local government elections.

He joked: "I've never won an election lying on my back but I won by 100 votes.

"It's maybe a new technique councillors should be looking at."