DISAPPOINTED mayor Jack Dobson dropped a bombshell for the Northallerton community in the wake of his election defeat.

He says he will not now be chairing the town carnival committee as planned.

The move comes just weeks after he pledged the event would continue but stressed more volunteers were needed to ensure its future.

"The people can't have it both ways," he said. "If they have no faith in me as a town councillor and as a mayor why should they have faith in me to run the carnival?"

Mr Dobson - who completes his civic year later this month - spoke out in the aftermath of Thursday's voting which saw both himself and his wife, Hilary, lose their town council seats.

He also lost a fierce struggle in the Northallerton Central ward for Hambleton District Council.

Mr Dobson says he doubts he will even stay on the carnival committee, of which Coun John Coulson - one of the victors in Central ward - is also a member.

"I am out," he said. "They can't have me around just when they want me. They can't vote me out and expect me to carry on chairing the carnival.

"It seems they do not trust me to be a councillor but yet to be on the carnival committee.

"This is not sour grapes and I am not taking it out on the people. I regret having to make this move but this is how I feel.

Mr Dobson also revealed he has already been approached to consider forming a Northallerton People's Party.

"It is early days but I am certainly thinking about it," he said.

He said he was "philosophical" about losing his seats on both district and town councils.

"I am disappointed for all the people I have worked with. It is like a bereavement for them and for me."

He said the ward's voting turnout - at 24pc and one of the lowest of the day - was "ridiculous."

Mr Dobson is still town mayor until the middle of May, at which point the town council has its annual meeting when the new membership takes over and a new mayor is sworn in.

Hilary Dobson said health problems could have played a part in her election defeats.

Along with the town council, she had contested the Northallerton North ward but lost to two Conservatives.

Due to severe arthritis which has meant her having to use two crutches, she had been having trouble getting around.

* Election round-up; page 1