COUNCIL workers in Rossendale will learn later this month how many jobs are to be axed in a shake up of costs and services.

Union leaders now hope job losses can be covered by not filling vacant posts and voluntary redundancies.

Assistant secretary of the Rossendale local government branch of Unison Stuart Bryan said: "The situation seems less threatening in as much as they are trying to reduce the original deficit of £450,000.

"They won't establish the council rate and budget until Monday and then we will know how much they have managed to knock it down."

Union officers will then meet council leaders and a meeting of all staff will be held on Monday, February 28.

Mr Bryan added: "They appear to be fairly confident they have made some inroads into the deficit. In the meantime we are sitting here waiting and hoping."

Council leader Alan Fishwick has already dismissed rumours that 45 jobs could be axed in the major review of costs and services but agreed that more than 20 posts could disappear.

Formal notification had been given of the council's intention to reduce salaries by a maximum of 10 per cent.

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