FOUR of Hyndburn's Independent councillors have put aside their ideological differences to unite under a single umbrella.

The new Independents in Hyndburn group will demand representation on committees and seek a greater influence at the Tory-led town hall.

The councillors have been given their own office and Clayton-le-Moors councillor Nick Collingridge will be interim leader, until the elections next May.

He is joined by Councillors David Mason, David Parkins and Paul Gott.

Councillor Collingridge said members would be non-partisan and vote with their consciences.

He said: "David Parkins is probably true, old style Labour. Paul Gott is probably New Labour. David Mason is still probably Tory but he disagrees with the way this council is being run. And I'm probably the most far right wing of anybody.

"If we all agree to vote a certain way then we will do. But if one of us disagrees he isn't going to be overruled by the other three."

The fifth Independent on the local authority Councillor Malcolm Pritchard has not joined the group.