IN the long history of "snouts in the trough", this has to be the most piggish.

Of course, I am referring to the obscene pay rise Bolton councillors have voted for themselves - 26 per cent for the leader, 40 per cent for the deputy and seven per cent for other councillors.

This at a time when other town hall staff have been given a pay cut!

And what about the police? Gordon Brown says keeping inflation under control is the reason for denying them a pay rise.

Clearly, this instruction is only meant for mere hard-working people. Councillors from the three main parties arrogantly believe they are not bound by the same constraints as "ordinary" people.

What do the people of Bolton think? Do we get value for money?

Eric Hyland, Green Party, Bolton