TOWN Hall staff are to leave the nine-to-five daily routine and pioneer new ways of working.

Bosses hope that changing traditional work patterns will make workers happier and more productive.

Another reason is to try to reduce the number of sick days staff rack up which is an average of 11.2 days a year.

About 150 of the council's 8,000 workforce will take part in the pilot project being run by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Under the Work-Life Balance Challenge Project, white-collar staff from several departments will spend the next few months trying out two alternatives.

The first will enable staff to get out of their usual office and work either from home or from another site. The second is an extended flexi-time scheme, giving staff more responsibility for ensuring that the work is done.

Councillor Trevor Holt, human resources spokesman, hoped Bury would spearhead any change. The council is one of only 16 public sector organisations in the North West taking part in the project.

"Although lifestyles have changed incredibly over the last couple of decades, in many cases, work patterns have not adapted at the same rate," he said.

"Our staff are highly valued and if they are happier in their work, then that is bound to be reflected in the quality of work they produce."

Mr Guy Berry, Bury's chief personnel officer, added: "Our targets through these projects will be to reduce employee turnover in the pilot sites and improve on sickness levels, especially short-term absences. We are also looking to improve communication with employees on work-life balance initiatives."

Private consultants employed by the DTI are co-ordinating the project and its findings will be evaluated early next year.