A COUNCIL was acting within accepted guidelines when it awarded members free car parking passes, it was revealed today.

Blackburn with Darwen councillors have handed themselves free passes for a town centre car park-- just over a year after telling shoppers they had to pay for on-street parking.

Furious traders and shoppers today said the decision to give the 64 members of Blackburn with Darwen Council free passes was outrageous.

Council bosses insisted members would only be able to take advantage of the scheme if they visited the town hall during their trip into Blackburn.

And a spokesman said: "This was recommended by an independent remuneration panel."

Today, a spokesman for the Local Government Association said expenses should be determined by an independent panel, and that as a result, allowances varied from area to area.

And the new owner of Blackburn Shopping Centre, The Mall, has confirmed it is looking at pricing in the car park to see if it should be altered to attract more shoppers.