COUNTY councillors are to be stopped from using their mobile phones abroad in a cost-saving move.

Lancashire County Council, which is making spending cuts of £179million, has decided only the most senior members should be able to make taxpayer-funded calls and receive emails while overseas.

County Hall said it could not reveal how much this measure would save because of its complex billing system, which involves councillors claiming for any mobile phone use that relates to their official roles.

A report prepared by chief executive Ged Fitzgerald said while “key position holders” needed to be permanently contactable, this did not apply to most councillors.

This could incur a “significant cost” because of roaming charges, he wrote.

Those allowed to use their phones abroad include members of the decision-making cabinet, and the leaders of the opposition parties.