A LABOUR councillor has urged colleagues to stop bickering over a rise in their allowances and unite to fight for a 'decent' firefighters' pay rise.

Wensley Fold, Blackburn, councillor Don Rishton, made his plea after Labour and Lib Dem councillors fell out over the annual increase in allowances for Blackburn with Darwen's councillors.

Allowances will rise by 3.5per cent, so the basic for all councillors is now £5,149, up from £4,975 from last year.

Lib Dem councillors opposed the rise and said they would give it to charity.

But Coun Rishton said: "I think there are bigger things we should be fighting for, rather than squabbling over councillors' allowances.

"For one thing, we should be fighting for a better deal for people working in the public sector, starting off with the firemen.

"They deserve more money and we should be challenging Government to give them what they deserve."

Firefighters are still locked in dispute with Government over pay and have threatened fresh strikes.