A LIFELINE has been thrown to North Turton Parish Council by three local people who have expressed an interest in becoming councillors.

The council was left in limbo last week after four members dramatically resigned, leaving just two members.

The resignations of David Holden, David Smith, Jean Rigby and Ray Pearson meant the council no longer had a quorum and could not operate because at least three members were needed.

Parish council clerk Jeff Hughes has spent the last seven days trying to find new members to take over from the four who quit.

If the three men interested in the vacancies agree to join, one of them will have to be appointed by Blackburn with Darwen Council to make the parish council quorum again. Then members could then co-opt the other two.

The crisis began when Cllr Holden and Cllr Smith were found by the Standards Board to have breached the code of conduct for local councils by failing to declare a personal interest when considering an application to demolish and rebuild a barn near their homes in Isherwood Fold, Edgworth.

Cllr Ray Pearson and Cllr Jean Rigby quit in support of their colleagues.

The four councillors said they believed the code of practice for parish councils to be "ill conceived and unworkable".

Mr Hughes said: "Three possible candidates have come forward and I am hopeful they will agree to join the parish council.

"I am expecting to find out their decision this weekend.

"We need some new blood on the parish council so we can continue to work for the community of North Turton.

"I would like to reassure residents that I am doing everything I can to resolve this situation so we can get back to business as usual."