LABOUR bosses in Burnley have imposed a three-line whip on the vote to select who should lead the new council.

Party chiefs are now planning a battle to hold on to power and have told members that turning up is essential to prevent opposition parties forcing the defeat of leader Coun Stuart Caddy and the collapse of the administration.

Labour lost overall control of the authority in the local elections, although former BNP councillor Maureen Stowe's decision to join the party bolstered its representation in the chamber to 22, one less than the total opposition.

Three opposition members - Liberal Democrat Mozaquir Ali, Independent Paula Riley and Tory Ida Carmichael - are away for the meeting, leaving a total opposition of 20.

This is made up of six British National Party councillors, two Conservatives, two Independents and 10 Liberal Democrats.

But if all Labour councillors attend and vote for Coun Caddy as leader, they will squeeze home by two votes.

If Labour survive the vote, they will decide how many places should be given to each party on the executive committee, the council's main decision-making body. All nine places are currently held by Labour councillors and the group is hoping to keep it that way.

If Labour lose, the meeting will be suspended while the parties discuss who should be put forward as leader and what the make-up of the executive should be.

Coun Peter Kenyon, acting secretary of the Burnley Labour Party, said: "We are expecting all our members to be there and to vote for Stuart as leader, which is the group's decision."

Coun Caddy, 54, a postal workers' union chief has been council leader for six years.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said that even if Labour survived tomorrow night's vote it was only a matter of time before they were defeated in the chamber.

He said: "Labour have got a three-line whip on this meeting and, although we may lose the vote, they don't have a mandate to continue in power."