MEMBERS of two town councils are to be thrown out for poor attendance.

Cllr John Ainscough, of Westhoughton Town Council, and Cllr Christine Cronnolley, of Horwich Town Council, have failed to attend meetings for more than six-months. Both are Liberal Democrat members.

Under local government legislation, a town councillor's status is forfeited if six consecutive months pass between their appearance at meetings.

Cllr Ainscough, aged 57, who has served on Westhoughton Town Council for 12 years, works for Airbus and puts his poor attendance down to job commitments.

He also sits on Bolton Council for Westhoughton South and, after seven years, will not stand for re-election.

He said: "It's been unavoidable as I'm now on night shifts at work and cannot get time off for meetings.

"I have enjoyed serving as a councillor and am hoping to take early retirement to return to council work."

Cllr Ainscough is not the only Lib-Dem member of Westhoughton Town Council with a poor attendance record.

The six members have totalled fewer than 30 attendances between them in the past 12 months, while the five Labour members and one Independent have attended more than 100.

Westhoughton Town Council leader Cllr Jim Gilfillan said: "John has been a valued colleague and I thank him for his work.

"I would have to say though that this is indicative of the Lib Dems' attitude to the town council at the moment."

Cllr Cronnolley, who has sat on Horwich town council for almost four years, said: "I have missed meetings due to ill health.

"I'm not particularly unhappy to be leaving, but I'd have liked some notification that it was approaching a time where I should have made more effort to attend meetings."