SUPPORTERS have rallied around a mayor's officer who has been told his wages will be slashed.

Graham Brunton, who has been hailed as an ambassador for Blackburn and Darwen, has been told his salary will be cut by about £5,000 - a fifth - as part of a controversial review of salaries.

Previous mayors have slammed the move, and now Mr Brunton's counterpart in Burnley has added his voice to the supporters.

Mr Brunton, who lives in Padiham and has acted as a chauffeur to first citizens for 18 years as well as handling mounds of paperwork and guarding the mayoral chains, is one of more than 1,000 council employees set to lose out under the new "equal pay scale".

It is thought the cut to Mr Brunton's wages has come about because he has been reclassified as a "driver" on the new pay scale.

But the mayor's officer at Burnley Council, David Farrar, said Mr Brunton's duties went way beyond being a chauffeur.

He said: "I know the long hours Graham puts in plus the all the other duties he has.

"He is responsible for the mayor and mayoress' chains, the civic car and other numerous civic regalia - all very valuable.

"Mayor officers are not just drivers as some people think.

"We put in a lot of unsocial hours and hard work.

"It's a demanding job and you have to be dedicated."

In agreeing its new equal pay scale - aimed at stamping out inequalities between workers - Blackburn with Darwen council is ahead of most neighbouring authorities.

Opposition councillors claim the "pay line" has been set too low, and the council will lose staff to other authorities in search of higher wages.

Brian Thompson, president of the Darwen Royal British Legion branch, also supported Mr Brunton.

He said: "How can they do this? I feel so furious.

"Everyone goes to him for advice, because he knows everything you want to know about the mayor and protocol.

"His job is much deeper than just that of a driver. Someone wants sacking for that, and his wage paying to Graham.

"When I read what had happened I had to say something.

"If he was to resign on account of all this, we would all suffer.

"I can't express my displeasure strongly enough."

Council leader Colin Rigby has promised to look into some of the "anomalies" of the pay settlement, which was drawn up after lengthy negotiations with unions, but it is not thought there will be major changes.