BOLTON'S deputy Mayor has come under fire for using the civic limousine - for a trip around the corner.

Labour Cllr Eric Johnson was in the news last week when he complained it was embarrassing that, as deputy Mayor, he had to take a taxi to functions.

But now an anonymous letter has been sent to the BEN saying that he used the mayoral car for a trip to St Katherine's Church, Blackrod, a stone's throw from his home in Latham Road.

Cllr Johnson said it was for an event last year - when he was Mayor.

He said: "When you are Mayor, all the arrangements are made by the attendants and the Mayor's secretary.

"The Mayor does not keep the chain of office with him and the attendant has to bring it in the car and then collect the Mayor.

"Last week, I was not asking for the deputy Mayor to have his own car. All I was saying was that the council does have pool cars, so couldn't the deputy Mayor use one of those?"

But the BEN letter writer was not impressed.

She said: "What's embarrassing about taking a taxi. I think it would be a loyal gesture to the public and more cost-saving to take the bus!

"What an example that would be to others arriving on the bus because, let's face it, it is their presence at these functions people are interested in and not how they get there."

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