CONTROVERSIAL councillor Paul Perry has resigned from the Labour group on Bolton Council.

He will carry on serving as an independent and will make his mind up over the weekend whether to stand in the local elections in May.

Cllr Perry has represented the Tonge ward for almost eight years, but he was de-selected as a Labour candidate for this year's elections and replaced by Mrs Elaine Sherrington. He has also revealed how he fell out with colleagues following an astonishing theft allegation last year.

He says that a town hall investigation was held after he was accused by another Labour councillor of stealing plants after the Mayor's Ball last year.

He said: "I had paid £25 for the plants and I was able to prove it. I was completely exonerated, but I didn't even receive an apology."

Earlier last year, Cllr Perry was temporarily ousted from the Labour group after a town centre confrontation with a union official.

Cllr Perry added that he had "the greatest respect" for Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader and for "Labour Party policies."

He said: "I would still like to carry on working for the people of Tonge ward."

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