A CANDY Crush council meeting row has broken out at an East Lancashire local authority with just days to go before May 2's local elections.

It follows a video of a senior Liberal Democrat apparently playing the popular digital game circulating on social media.

Burnley Council's deputy leader Cllr Margaret Lishman is caught on the clip focussed on Candy Crush while sitting in a Full Council meeting of the authority.

Conservative finance spokesman Cllr Jamie McGowan has described the video as 'shameful'.

But Cllr Lishman has hit back saying the clip dates from before the Covid pandemic and before she held any senior position on the authority.

The footage, which has appeared on Facebook and YouTube this week, shows the long-time Briercliffe Councillor playing the game during a Full Council meeting in which all councillors are required to attend.

Distracted by the game Mrs Lishman is even prompted to vote during the proceedings by her colleague and husband Cllr Gordon Lishman.

Hapton with Park ward's Cllr McGowan said: “The people of Burnley and Padiham deserve so much better than this.

"It really is shameful, especially the part where she votes.

"Cllr Lishman is deputy leader of the council who is also responsible for the budget.

"To be caught playing Candy Crush during a Full Council meeting is just shocking.

"The question is how many times has this happened?

"She must surely consider her position in the council now.”

The video has already been viewed thousands of times since it was first posted on Facebook.

Cllr Lishman said: “This is a nasty little non-story dredged up from years ago, which had some publicity at the time.

“I have spent hundreds of hours in council meetings over the years and not everything discussed over that time has been equally important or engaging.

"At the time of this underhand recording, I did not have a leading role on the council.

“As all other councillors know, I have a record of participating fully in council meetings.

"Indeed, I contribute to full council meetings and speak more often than nearly all other councillors”.

Cllr McGowan responded: "Cllr Lishman’s response clearly shows the disregard she has for residents. It’s appalling.”

Cllr Lishman is one of four candidates standing for election in Briercliffe ward on May along with Labour's Pete Coles, Green Julie Hurt and Conservative Richard Sagar.