A councillor of more than a decade is to step down at the start of next month to explore "other opportunities".

Mudasir Dean is to surrender his seat in Bradshaw Ward at the time of the Bolton Council election on May 2. 

Elected in 2012, Cllr Dean has been a fixture of Conservative Group at the town hall for 12 years, a period in which he has been in positions such as the cabinet member for communities and a number of committee chairs.

He is to step down at the start of next month with his seat in Bradshaw Ward up for election during the polls.

The Bolton News: Mudasir Dean

Cllr Dean said: "Serving the people of the Bolton Family has been the greatest honour over the last 12 years. To represent the people of Bolton, Bradshaw and Harwood in the town hall has been an incredible experience. 

"I am proud of the small role I played and I assure you the spirit of this service will continue. However it is time for me to explore other opportunities of how I can be of further service to our country.

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"Boltonians and fellow councillors must remember this is one of the greatest places in the North of England and beyond. I would like to wish all across the council chamber best wishes for the future. 

"I urge them not to underestimate the role they can play in shaping Bolton's future."

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Cllr Dean's political career includes two attempts to become an MP, once in Rochdale when he came third to Labour's Simon Danczuk and the Lib Dems' Paul Rowen, and once in Bolton South East when he came third to Labour's Yasmin Qureshi and UKIP's Jeff Armstrong.

Martyn Cox, the leader of the Conservative Group, said he hopes this political career is not over and Cllr Dean will be back in the council chamber "in a few years".

Cllr Cox said: "I think he wanted to take some time out of the frontline. He works full-time in [Bolton North MP] Mark Logan's office so he is occupied but I think being a councillor on top of a bit of ill health led him step down. 

"He did a great job for me in the cabinet. He was our liaison with the police and he did a great job on community relations but I hope he will be back in a few years."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.