CENTRAL Rochdale councillor Ibrar Ali Khan has announced that he will be stepping down at the next election due to work commitments.

Councillor Khan from Wardleworth joined the council in 2006 as a newcomer after winning his seat by a majority of 300 votes from Shah Wazir.

Since being elected Councillor Khan has successfully campaigned to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce crime by working with the police, community representatives and mosque leaders.

He believes that the best thing about being a councillor has been connecting with local people and is pleased with the progress that has been made to get more facilities for young people in the area.

But since recently being promoted to deputy manger at Morrison’s in Kingsway Councillor Khan feels he is unable to remain as committed as a councillor and will now be campaigning hard to get 32-year-old Abdul Rahim elected as the next Labour councillor.

He announced his future departure at last week’s Central North Forum at Richmond Hall.

Speaking to the residents, he said: "It’s been a great four years working for the community and I’ll be stepping down this time from running as a councillor.

"Next time we meet there we meet there will be someone else standing here.

"I’ll still be in the community pushing for our rights.

"There has been excellent work done, but there is still a lot to be done. I suggest you keep on pressing.

"There is also a lot of work that hasn’t been done and, I hold my hands up, we need to carry it forward."

The central ward councillor has already received a number of cards from residents wishing him well and said he was proud to have served ‘a fantastic, diverse community full of great people’.

He added: "I have more responsibility at work now. I also want to spend more time with my children, as I’ve not seen as much of them as I would like because of council work.

"I will still be involved in politics though, just on a less committed level.

"I’ll be campaigning for Abdul, who is a young and energetic man and wants to put something back into his community and I’ll be helping the Labour Parliamentary candidate, Simon Danczuk, get elected as Rochdale's next MP."

Mr Danczuk commented that Councillor Khan would be sorely missed and thanked him on behalf of the Labour party for his service to the community.