A COUNCILLOR who suffered three heart attacks in one day has warned people not to think they are "invincible."

Coun Frank Connor, of Darwen, has returned to work less than two months after the attacks put him in hospital for the first time in his life. The 56-year-old Labour representative for the Marsh House ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council has been welcomed back to the town hall by his fellow council members.

But he has warned people to watch their health carefully.

He said: "It's a major change in my life and it was very frightening. I had never been in hospital before in my life and that didn't help things.

"Don't think you're invincible, look after yourself. It's a real shock when it happens. I felt very vulnerable and frightened to death."

Coun Connor leads a hectic life, working as a tenant support officer for a housing association, sitting as a JP and representing a busy political ward. The heart attacks struck in October while he was at work, and after a trip to his doctors he was sent straight to the hospital.

Luckily the father of five, who also has two grandchildren, was told his heart had not been damaged but the shock has meant a few lifestyle changes.

Coun Connor said: "I've still got a long way to go. At the moment we are looking at about a 70 per cent chance of needing a heart bypass operation. They put it down to my lifestyle really and they said it was generic. I'm a typical 56-year-old Glaswegian smoker.

"I have gone from smoking 25 cigarettes and drinking 40 cups a day to smoking no cigarettes and just having one or two cups a day. I will have to look at slowing down and have people come after me rather than me running after them!"

Despite the shock, the councillor says he has no plans to give up his hectic council life. Leader of Blackburn with Darwen, Sir Bill Taylor, said: "It's good to see Frank back and we all wish him a speedy and full recovery."