COUNCIL workers in East Lancashire are taking up to an extra week off sick than people working in the private sector, new figures have revealed.

Now councils drawing up plans to force down the number of 'sick' days -- even though latest figures are lower than before.

Ribble Valley workers have the least amount of time off work in East Lancashire, with an average of 8.5 days a year, compared to 7.2 days for workers in the private sector.

That figure also makes them the best in Lancashire at dragging themselves into work, while Hyndburn workers are the worst in the East of the county.

At an average of 12.2 days off a year, staff in Hyndburn are taking more than two working weeks off a year.

In between came Pendle, where staff average 10.6 days off a year, Burnley with 10.8 days and Blackburn with 11.9 days.

Chorley workers average 13.5 days off a year, while in South Ribble, the figure is 11.9.

Ribble Valley Council plans to reduce the total further.

Legal and administration manager, Michelle Smith, said: "We plan to issue monthly letters to staff linked to levels of absence supported by closer monitoring, discussions with managers and enhanced reporting requirements, as well as health promotion."

According to the Confederation of British Industry, Britain's businesses lost 176million days through illness, equated to 7.2days per person.

Unions have claimed that people working in the public sector are more inclined to take days off because they feel more secure in their jobs than private sector staff.