THE balance of power on Bolton Council, which changed following last week's elections, could change again after the resignation of a councillor.

The Liberal Democrat councillor for Crompton Ward, Iqbal Patel, stood down so he can devote more time to his family and his business.

His resignation will trigger a by-election in the ward which is expected to be strongly contested.

The ruling Labour party holds the slimmest of leads in the council chamber following the poll on May 4. They have 22 seats, with the Conservatives on 21.

Mr Patel's resignation means the Lib Dems, who led the council before the election, now have 16 seats instead of 17.

Following Labour's election success, the Conservative party agreed to a Labour ruling executive on the council on the grounds of their one-seat lead but could ask for the arrangement to be reviewed if the by-election left the two parties with an equal number of candidates.

Cllr Patel, aged 37, said he stood down to spend more time with his family and at his business as well as looking after his poorly father.

He has three children Sajid, aged 10, Ismail, aged eight, and Aamina, aged three and owns a computer supply firm in Manchester employing 12 people. Cllr Patel was elected in 2004. His seat was due to be contested again in 2008. He said: "It has been my honour to serve as a Liberal Democrat councillor, but this role has demanded a huge amount of my time and energy which I feel I can no longer give.

"I realise that this has left the council in a difficult position, but I feel I have to dedicate more of my time to my family and my business.

"My company has suffered and I have tried my best to juggle the workload.

"One day, when my situation is different, it might be that I can return to the council."

Cllr Patel, who has held the post of deputy head of planning for the past 12 months, said he will remain a member of the Lib Dems. Each of Bolton's 20 wards have three councillors. One seat in each of them was contested last week.

Labour's Sufrana Ismail took the Crompton seat with an 800-vote majority, beating the serving Lib Dem councillor Vali Patel.

The Conservative, Donald Fairclough, finished in third place.

The ward's other seat is held by the Lib Dem councillor, Stewart Ball.

Lib Dem leader Councillor Barbara Ronson said: "I am disappointed by Cllr Patel's decision but there have been pressures on him.

"Iqbal is a bright, young man who I thought had a good future ahead of him on the council."