LEADER Stuart Caddy today spoke of his delight after Labour maintained its grip on Burnley's ruling executive - despite not having an overall majority in the council chamber.

Coun Caddy was re-elected as council leader and his group held on to every key position after opposition absentees allowed them a three-vote majority at last night's full council.

But the party could face a tough battle to hold on to overall power after opposition leaders vowed to force a vote of no confidence - and oust Coun Caddy as leader - whenever they next had a majority in the council chamber.

Although opposition parties, including the British National Party, have 23 seats to Labour's 22, they have made no attempt to form a coalition but are seeking some key seats on the executive.

Labour councillors were issued with a three-line whip to attend last night.

Stuart Caddy's re-election, his seventh year as council leader, by 22 votes to 19 means that the council's nine-strong executive will continue to be made up entirely of Labour members despite calls for a mixed administration.

Opposition leaders claimed Labour's loss of overall control of the council in the recent elections meant other parties should be represented on the executive, the council's main decision making body.

Liberal Democrat leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle said: "At the elections people voted not to be run by Labour with less than a third voting for them. It is time for a change, people need a change and are asking for a change. The leader and executive should be suitable for everybody and should fairly represent the people in the council chamber.

"Meeting after meeting Labour will be forced to turn up in force and when they are one short we will force a vote of no confidence in the executive."

Conservative leader Coun Peter Doyle said: "All the figures from the election prove that the people of this town consider the Labour council under Coun Caddy a failure and he certainly cannot now say anything like a majority support his policies."

Mr Caddy, 54, said: "It is an honour to be council leader for the seventh year. Despite the critics we are taking Burnley in the right direction and I am looking forward to the next 12 months.

"Any talk of votes of no confidence do not worry me."

The executive will be made up of councillors Stuart Caddy (leader), Pat Bennett (deputy leader - customer services and information), Peter Kenyon (best value and resources), Barry Guttridge (leisure), Carole Galbraith (regeneration and housing), Linda Gauton (public protection and community safety), Frank Cant (planning, environment and transport), Janice Swainston (social welfare) and Denis Otter (member without portfolio).