JOB losses at Hyndburn Council, as borough chiefs plan a 30th anniversary party, has sparked a row between Tory and Labour councillors.

The Conservative cabinet is reducing costs by 15 per cent across all services this year, to address its £1.8 million debt. And as part of that, three part-time cleaners' posts are being lost.

But Labour councillors claim the losses, estimated at saving £15,000, are unnecessary and wrong. They have suggested the number of cabinet councillors be cut from nine to six, to save £15,000 in expenses and costs.

They have also dismissed the borough's 30th anniversary event as wasteful. But the Conservative leader has denied any wrongdoing.

Labour councillors Jean Battle and David Myles claimed the three cleaners were effectively being made redundant through the back door. Coun Myles said: "They are all aged over 65 and one has worked for Hyndburn for 17 years. We were assured there'd be no redundancies through service cuts, only through natural wastage. But these cleaners are being forced to retire, which is no way for a council to behave."

Coun Battle said the Tories never mentioned cleaner reductions in their budget debate or at a recent scrutiny committee meeting.

Conservative leader Coun Peter Britcliffe denied any wrongdoing. He said: "I'm sad that this is the cost of inheriting the financial blackhole the Labour Party left us. Service reductions were agreed in the budget, which Labour also agreed. The council has done it all it can to make sure the cleaners receive what they're entitled to."

He said the borough's 30th anniversary event would only cost around £2,000 from the Accrington town centre promotion budget.