THE leader of Wyre Forest District Council's Labour party has put his money where his mouth is in the ongoing row over hikes in councillors' allowances.

Jamie Shaw has pledged to distribute his £4,450 special responsibility allowance among "many worthy local organisations".

He had previously said the increases, suggested by an independent review panel and accepted at a council meeting in July, could have been used to fund more worthy causes such as better public toilet provision or improved litter picking.

This followed council leader Mike Oborski's announcement that he would only claim £5,000 of his £10,000 entitlement.

The 161 per cent rise in allowances - which amounts to a £114,000 increase - was widely criticised by Labour councillors.

They said the district council, which has a £10.5 million budget, should not be implementing similar allowances to Worcestershire County Council - which has a budget of £375.5 million.

Mr Shaw is entitled to £4,450 in his role as a scrutiny chairman and leader of the opposition and has vowed to discuss with colleagues how best to redistribute the money next year.

He said: "I have made it clear that I will not be accepting this sum of money for my personal use.

"Indeed, my Labour colleagues and I will seek to have the issue of members' allowances re-examined in due course, alongside other uses to which some of the allowance money could be put."