COUNCILLORS look set to vote themselves a 13 per cent pay rise.

Durham County Council's 61 members could see their basic allowances boosted by an average of £1,000 a year.

The move is believed to have been backed by the majority of Labour councillors, of which there are 52, at their group meeting last week.

Lynne Robson of local government workers' union Unison said: "For councillors to say they can't afford to deliver some services and yet they can find the money to give themselves a substantial pay rise will not sit very well."

A source who attended the meeting said: "I'm appalled at what they've done. The Labour councillors make up most of the council so they've effectively voted it already."

Councillors are entitled to a basic allowance of £7,206 a year as well as expenses.

An independent panel recommended in April that senior cabinet members receive rises in their special responsibility allowances, the deputy leader a rise of 55 per cent to £16,764; the leader, 23 per cent to £26,528.

It is understood those rises will be scrapped in favour of a rise for every councillor, which is due to be debated by the full council on June 27. Council leader Ken Manton said this was an attempt to attract more people into local government.