ROSSENDALE Council is bidding to save £10,000 a year - by closing its pest control department.

Council bosses have agreed a deal for Rochdale Council to provide the service in the east of the valley, and Bury Council in the west from today.

Rossendale's own pest control service has been disbanded and staff given other jobs in the council.

Council bosses have claimed the cutbacks would not mean a reduced service for Rossendale residents, despite hundreds of call outs every years to their pest control department.

Some 145 calls out of 373 last year were about rats, 139 about wasps and 35 for mice.

Coun Judith Driver, Rossendale Council portfolio holder for streetscene and liveability, said: "This is the best way for Rossendale Council to provide pest control services in the borough.

"I am pleased that Bury and Rochdale have agreed to work with us in partnership to provide these services and have every confidence that they will do a great job for us."

A spokesperson for Bury and Rochdale Council said: "We are looking forward to working with Rossendale to provide pest control services.

"All of the councils involved in this partnership will benefit from sharing the costs of delivering pest control services.

"This is just one example of how council's in the North West are working together to deliver better services to local people and deliver the government's efficiency agenda."