BLACKBURN with Darwen council bosses have been set a deadline of lunchtime tomorrow to avert a strike by staff.

Union representatives met with chief executive Graham Burgess today for "last ditch" talks to discuss controversial changes to town hall wages.

Mr Burgess will set out the council's position in a letter to GMB and Unite representatives - who will then decide whether to go ahead with the walkout next Wednesday.

GMB organiser Graham Coxon said the unions had made two demands - that no members suffer financial loss as a result of the job evaluation' process, and that a letter threatening staff with the sack if they don't accept the changes is withdrawn.

Mr Coxon said: "He asked for 24 hours to make a response to us. If it does what we are asking it may well be that we suspend the strike action. If not it will go ahead as planned on Wednesday.

"The crux is the threat of dismissal. We want that removing from the table.

"It all hinges on what he puts in the letter - I do not want to say more because that would inflame the situation.

"But if industrial action goes ahead the gloves will be off."

Ros Shepherd, of Unite, added: "As it stands at the moment we are still intending to strike, but it all depends on the letter from the chief executive."

Around 600 workers, including refuse collectors, street cleaners and library staff, are expected to take part in the "unlimited" walkout on Wednesday.

The fallout follows the controversial job evaluation process, which has seen 5,500 council jobs reviewed in an attempt to ensure equality between men's and women's salaries.

Under the current proposals, which have already been agreed by the council's ruling executive board, 1,266 workers are facing cuts to their salaries.

Council chiefs say 46 per cent of wages will increase and 30 per cent will stay the same.

Mr Burgess said he did not want to discuss contingency plans in the event of a strike because he was still hopeful it could be averted.

He added: "It was a positive and constructive meeting.

"The unions put their major concerns to us and we agreed to reflect on them and give them a written response."

He said the unions had been invited to a further meeting on Tuesday.