COUNCILLORS in Bolton should be paid a salary of at least £20,000 a leading Liberal Democrat has said.

Cllr Martyn Cox, member for Horwich and Blackrod, has decided not to stand for re-election in next month's local poll, citing family and work pressures and "frustration" with the way local government works.

Cllr Cox has his own business, Farnworth-based construction company George Cox & Sons and also wants to spend more time with his wife Rosa and three children Carolina, Andrew and Marianne.

He believes councillors should be paid as full-time employees to encourage more people on low incomes, and those who have to work to support families, to stand for election.

Cllr Cox says the change would not cost tax-payers more money, calling for it to be funded by halving the number of councillors from 60 to 30.

The 39-year-old, who spent two years as executive member for children's services after being elected as a councillor in 2003 said: "I've found it very difficult being a dad, a company director, a police authority member and a ward councillor and haven't been able to put in the hours a councillor needs to.

"There are a number of ways you could change that. You could have fewer but better paid councillors so people can do it as a career rather than as a part-time job and you could have more evening meetings because currently a lot are in the day."