A FIERCE critic of a local authority is due to be appointed as a member of the council.

Veteran campaigner Bernard Borman has applied to become a Leyburn town councillor following the resignation of three members earlier this year.

He will be confirmed as a councillor at the authority's July meeting unopposed and without an election as only two people came forward to fill the three vacancies.

John Begley, landlord of the Black Swan in the town's market place, has also applied to join the authority.

Mr Borman has in the past strongly criticised the authority for the purchase of Thornborough Hall and the council's financial management.

In 2006, it emerged that dealing with Mr Borman's complaints had cost the town council 25 per cent of that year's council tax levy.

The council had to pay £3, 818 to its auditors, who investigated a complaint about the council's accounts made by Bernard Borman.

Mr Borman had objected to the accounts because they included money spent defending a libel action he had threatened to launch against the town clerk, Julie Forrest, and mayor, Trixie Walker.

In 2000, Mr Borman was asked to leave a town council meeting by a police officer after he was involved in angry exchanges with Cllr Walker.

However, Mr Borman said he was looking forward to working with other members.

He said: "I will work with the devil if needs be. We need to make sure the residents of Leyburn will be heard properly and be represented properly - the people of Leyburn need to have a voice."

He added: "It's a great town with excellent shops, fantastic facilities and wonderful places to eat.

"We must make sure that we are the classic upmarket place for people who want to come to the area.

"I will insist that we do things ethically and lawfully to the benefit. I do not waste public money, but I will speak up for high standards in local government."