LANCASHIRE County Council was told it must try harder to get more women employed in top jobs, but Blackburn with Darwen Council has almost reached a union target.

The authority was ranked 119 in a GMB survey of 149 county and unitary authorities in England.

Union officials found that only a third of Lancashire County Council's top five per cent of earners were women.

That compares with the London borough of Merton, which topped the poll, with women making up 60 per cent of its top earners.

Although the county council has a female leader, Rossendale councillor Hazel Harding, and a female chairman, Preston councillor Nora Ward, union officials want more women to be recruited into the top full-time, paid positions.

Blackburn with Darwen Council was also included in the new analysis and placed at number 33, having female employees in 43 per cent of its highest paid jobs.

The City of London Council was placed last with only 12 per cent.

Justin Bowden, a senior GMB organiser, said: "Having 33 per cent of women in the best paid jobs is some way short of the 50 per cent mark we would expect.

"Blackburn with Darwen is almost there, but Lancashire really must try harder. When the trade union movement pressed local councils to follow equal opportunity recruitment policies the object was to ensure that the male domination of top posts in councils would be abolished.

"These figures demonstrate that if employers put their mind to it women can get a fair deal and break through the glass ceiling.

"Action needs to be taken urgently in the councils that have yet to address the very real problem of lack of equal pay and lack of equal opportunities."

The GMB said the figures could be an indication that equal opportunities policies are failing at some local authorities.

Lancashire County Council was unable to comment.