Bury Council's deputy leader has shared his pride in "making a real different to families" after switching roles following the local elections last month.

Redvales Labour Cllr Tamoor Tariq served as the council's cabinet member for children and young people for three years ahead of the all-out elections in May.

He faced tough challenges in charge of the portfolio, with Bury's children's services rated "inadequate" by education watchdog Ofsted in a damning report released in December last year.

But Cllr Tariq has praised the staff he worked with and said his department has worked hard to help families in a number of ways. 

He is now in the role of cabinet member for adult care, health and wellbeing with Besses Cllr Lucy Smith succeeding him in the children and young people position.

Posting on Twitter, Cllr Tariq said: "It has been a true privilege to lead as cabinet member for children and young people over the past three years, I’m now changing roles.

"Giving children and young people the best life chances and opportunities to thrive is at the heart of what Bury Council is committed to do.

"I am proud to have been able to champion developments that make a real difference to local families, and to listen and respond where improvements are needed.

"It has been a huge privilege to champion all things children services, I’ve worked with the best staff and partners

"Following the annual council appointments last month, I will now be taking on the role of cabinet member for adult care, health and wellbeing.

"I will be working hard as part of my work to ensure that children who have special educational needs and disabilities are supported.

"We have supported local families over the rising cost of living, through schemes such school meal vouchers during the holidays, the wonderful holiday activity schemes and help to buy school uniforms for eligible families.

"We have responded to the need to improve our children’s social care system by agreeing an improvement plan and recruiting additional social workers to join our team.

"It’s fantastic news too that over 94 per cent of Bury primary pupils will attend their first choice of primary school and the number of pupils who have been accepted into their first choice of secondary school has also increased from last year.

"It was also a pleasure during my final weeks in the role, I had the opportunity to visit a number of schools that have improved Ofsted performance.

"I feel confident that things are progressing in a positive way in children’s services more broadly, and I wish my successor Cllr Smith all the very best in her new role."

Cllr Tariq also said he is looking forward to his new portfolio.

He added: "It’s an exciting time in adult care and health and this is the right time to now pick up on the sterling work of former Cllr Andrea Simpson to improve health and wellbeing and to champion the benefits of delivering personalised care services right down to a neighbourhood level."

In response to Cllr Tariq's tweets, Ms Simpson replied: "You are exactly the right person for this role and I have no doubt in your abilities to improve the health of our population in Bury. Wishing you the best of luck."