COUNCIL bosses are today looking at ways to create £15,000 for the borough's budget after it was decided the Mayor's registration plate would not be sold.

Rossendale Council decided put the Mayor's private number plate up for sale in a bid to help to keep the council tax bill down.

But council officials had a change of heart when they found out that the plate was donated by local businessman, Jack Cordingley, of Helmshore, 30 years ago.

The registration plate -- 1 MTC, worth an estimated £15,000 was presented to the council when he owned a garage in Haslingden.

When the Mayor, Coun Jimmy Eaton, heard what was to happen he pleaded with the council for them to keep the plate.

But today Coun Eaton said he was delighted to hear the good news.

He said: "I thought it was ridiculous that the idea was ever even mentioned. £15,000 isn't a great deal of money so it wouldn't have made that much of a difference to the council's budget.

"The fact that the number plate was donated by a local businessman 30 years ago should mean that it stays with Rossendale.

"If there is any mention of this again I would like to think the person who donated it will be consulted before any action is taken. I am over the moon that the next mayor will be able to take advantage of the plate, it's going to stay where it belongs."

A council spokesman said: "Some people remembered that the number plate was a gift and we thought it was not proper and ungrateful for us to sell it.

"We are now going to seek other ways to find the money to keep council tax bills down.

"We are always looking at saving money and now we are going to get our thinking caps on to find someway of generating the £15,000."