A COUNCIL leader will not fight his marginal seat in forthcoming elections, but will instead stand in a safe ward.

Labour's David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, was yesterday accused of "running scared" by a rival leader in Cleveland's most marginal authority.

Coun Walsh represents the marginal seat of Loftus, but will fight in the safe Labour ward of Eston in May's election.

Coun Walsh, who lives in Skelton, scraped in at the last election when he received the third largest number of votes out of the three Labour councillors elected in Loftus.

In a later by-election, fought on General Election day in 2001, East Cleveland Independent (ECI) David Fitzpatrick, received 60 per cent of the vote. In contrast, Eston traditionally votes overwhelmingly Labour.

Veteran councillor Ivy Cole, who is in her 80s, will not stand in Eston.

Yesterday, Coun Walsh denied he was protecting his position.

He said: "I was actually quite surprised by it. I was nominated for the Eston ward and the party selected me. I'm just a humble foot soldier of the Labour Party and will stand where I am selected. I've actually represented three or four wards in my time."

However, East Cleveland Independent leader Steve Kay accused him of "running scared".

He said: "It's rather a disappointment he's not standing. We would have enjoyed knocking the leader of the council out of the authority.

"It shows how respected we are by the leading group on the council.

"I think Mr Walsh should stand and fight by his Labour policies, rather than run scared."

At the last election, Labour scraped in with 30 out of 59 seats.