A FORMER Mayor of Bolton is retiring from politics after 24 years.

Cllr Kevan Helsby, aged 57, is a former Bolton councillor and currently sits on Horwich Town Council, of which he has been Mayor twice.

But after playing a part in seeing through some of the area's biggest redevelopments, he has decided it is time to quit.

He said: "When you come to the end of an era you think back to all the changes over the years it is quite sad to be leaving, but there is always something else to do and I hope that I can follow some of my other hobbies and interests."

Cllr Helsby was a school careers advisor when he came into local politics in 1983. Two years later, he became vice-chairman of Bolton Council's planning committee, a position he held for five years.

He was one of the leading figures involved with the revamp of the Market Place in 1990, when it was reopened by the Queen.

The Labour councillor was also one of the driving forces behind the development of Middlebrook Retail Park and the Horwich Resource Centre in Beaumont Road.

He received an MBE in the Millennium honours list for his services to Horwich.

Cllr Helsby, who lives in Oxford Road, Horwich, added: "Lots of great things have happened during my time as a councillor.

"When I first joined the council, unemployment was an issue - especially as the Loco works had just closed - but we adapted to the needs of the town. The development of Middlebrook, the Reebok Stadium, the Arena and Horwich Parkway station have been a great boost for the town."

Cllr Helsby will attend his last meeting on April 26, where current Mayor of Horwich, Cllr Bernard McCartin, will make a presentation.