A FORMER mayor revealed last night how political in-fighting and back-stabbing drove her close to despair.

As reported last week, Councillor Pat Walker has resigned as Labour group secretary in Middlesbrough.

She revealed last night that she is to stand as an independent councillor for the town's Grove Hill ward, which she has represented for Labour.

She said she had a feeling of relief when she handed in her papers at the town hall yesterday, registering as an independent candidate in the elections, on Thursday, May 1.

She said: "I could have walked away from it all, but I did not want to let down the people of Grove Hill."

Coun Walker said her family had been dragged into the sniping which followed a split in Middlesbrough's controlling Labour group.

One story, about railings erected outside her stepdaughter, Linda Walker's council house, was publicly condemned by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon as mischief-making.

Coun Walker said: "It made me ill as soon as it affected my family."

Fellow Grove Hill councillor, veteran politician Ken Hall has also quit the Labour group and party.

He and Coun Walker said the main reason for their decision was the backing MrMallon received from some Labour members in his bid to become mayor, despite Labour having a candidate, Councillor Sylvia Connolly.