COUNCILLORS have handed back their allowance rise to the town hall in a protest over a rise in payments.

But the eight Lib Dem councillors were today accused of blatant electioneering after turning up at Blackburn with Darwen council with a cheque for £1,534.

The cash was the equivalent to the 3.5 per cent rise approved by the council and backed by Tory and Labour councillors last month.

The Lib Dems, along with BNP councillor Robin Evans, voted against the rise.

The Lib Dems claimed it was unfair to expect another rise just a year after a 10 per cent rise was approved and so soon after residents had been hit by a near 10 per cent increase in council tax.

Deputy leader David Foster said: "Liberal Democrat councillors believe in the phrase 'put your money where your mouth is.' We criticised the other two parties for agreeing to an increase at the last council meeting. We have now calculated what that increase is worth and felt it only right that we should give it back.

"Council tax payers have had to put up with an above average increase and we did not think it right that we should pay ourselves more." An independent panel has already begun looking at next year's allowance structure.

Political parties put their suggestions to the panel, which will then decide what councillors should get paid.

In their submission, the Lib Dems have proposed that there should be some connection between the value for money provided by the council and councillors' allowances and that councillors who do not come up to scratch by not attending meetings should be financially penalised.

Tory leader Colin Rigby said: "The Lib Dems are just electioneering.

"I would prefer a system which paid per meeting attended but it isn't the way that things can be done under this electoral system."

Council leader Sir Bill Taylor said: "I have always thought performance-related pay was the best way and the Lib Dems are obviously feeling the need to give back as a result.

"Our allowances are determined by an independent panel.

"We have nothing to do with it, other than accepting their recommendations and making submissions before they decide what to recommend.

"There are councillors who forsake career advancement to work as councillors and nobody comes into it for the money."