VETERAN Conservative Politician Albert Atkinson is quitting as deputy leader of Lancashire County Council next month.

The 79-year-old will also stand down as Ribble Valley North-East county councillor when the authority is next up for election in May 2021.

Cllr Atkinson has been deputy leader of the county Conservative group for 14 years.

His post will be taken by highways boss and Chorley Rural West representative Keith Iddon.

Cllr Atkinson said: "I will have been a county councillor for almost 30 years by 2021 so I think I have done my bit.

"I have had a great time including six years a deputy leader of the county council when we were in power."

He will keep his current job in charge of trading standards.