LANCASHIRE County Council is freezing expenses payments for its councillors for the second year running, it has confirmed.

The decision means there will be no change to basic allowances paid to county councillors.

The amounts given to councillors for carrying out special duties, such as chairing committees or holding a cabinet position, as well as travel and subsistence claims, will also remain unchanged.

Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "Lancashire is facing tough economic times and we are taking a number of steps to ensure we save tax payers' money, while protecting the services Lancashire's residents use every day."

Last week the Lancashire Telegraph revealed county councillors had exchanged an angry series of emails on the subject of expenses.

Lib Dem councillor Mark Jewell had proposed a 3.6per cent cut, but added it was 'purely symbolic with no great savings, but it would provide a headline "Councillors must share the burden of cuts" or something like that'.

Conservative councillor Peter Britcliffe rejected the move, writing: 'Can't see the point in symbolic gestures ... I still have to live'.