CONTROVERSIAL councillor Martin Donaghy has been told officially that he has to quit.

Town hall chiefs have written to him saying that he is now disqualified from holding office after being declared bankrupt.

It is understood that Cllr Donaghy is appealing against the bankruptcy order. Bolton Council has been told that even if he was successful he would still have to fight a by-election to re-gain his Daubhill ward seat.

Mr Brian Collinge, chief executive, said: "This is a situation we have not faced before and as a result, we have taken counsel's opinion.

"The advice we have been given is that he was disqualified from when the bankruptcy order was made. "Even if the order is amended or annulled, he would not automatically be able to return to the council without a by election."

Cllr Donaghy - who used to run Donaghy's Bar in Great Moor Street - represented the Daubhill ward for 17 years. The BEN was unable to contact Cllr Donaghy.

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