BURY Council's top earners who are taking home more than £100,000 have been revealed.

The latest figures found that four council employees raked in a six figure salary in 2017/18 despite rising council tax bills and cuts to services.

The highest paid council officer was Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, Bury's interim chief executive, who earned more than £200,000.

Her remuneration package included a salary of £169,759 and a pension of £31,807.

Three further local authority figures also took home remuneration packages topping the threshold.

Bury Council's interim executive directors of resources and regulation, communities and wellbeing, and children, young people and culture each landed remuneration packages of £139,227, £133,716 and £129,627 respectively.

A Bury Council spokesman said: “Only four of our officers are paid more than £100,000, a much lower number than most metropolitan councils across the country, and the joint lowest in Greater Manchester.

“To put it into perspective, the council has lost more than 600 staff in recent years, including many senior managers, due to austerity. This has saved the authority around £18 million in salary costs.”

The data comes from the latest annual Town Hall Rich List, published by the Taxpayers' Alliance.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last twenty years and spending has gone through the roof.

"Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay.

"Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with staggering pay-outs for those leaving their jobs.

"There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities."

The latest figures also represent a marked pay rise for Bury Councils top earners from 2016/17.

The highest earner in that year was chief executive Mike Owen, who resigned last June before a disciplinary hearing over child protection.

Mr Owen's remuneration package totalled £188,663.

Last year town hall bosses recommended a pay rise of more than £13,000 for the chief executive to £175,000, ahead of the appointment of the incumbent Geoff Little in May 2018.