MEMBERS of Blackrod Town Council have defended their role after a Bolton Councillor questioned the value of the borough's three town councils.

Blackrod's Mayor, Cllr Stephen Laycock raised the issue at a meeting of the town council last night and held up a copy of a Bolton News article in which Cllr Andy Morgan, the deputy leader of the Bolton Conservatives, asked wether town councils were providing value for money at a time when "every penny matters".

Chairing the meeting, Cllr Laycock said: "There was a vote on the Bolton News website and it appears the majority of people voting seemed to agree with Cllr Morgan.

"But there are a lot of people that give up there time voluntarily on this town council and I think they have a very positive input."

The town council then agreed to form a response to Cllr Morgan's comments.