Eight Bolton Town Hall bosses are paid more than £100,000, including the Chief Executive who earns a higher salary than the Prime Minister.

The figures come following the release of controversial campaign group the TaxPayer’s Alliance’s annual “Town Hall Rich List”, which tracks how many council employees across the UK are paid more than £100,000.

In Bolton’s case, Chief Executive Tony Oakman was the highest-paid employee earning £185,385 per year - that's more than £20,000 higher than Boris Johnson’s salary.

However, Bolton Council says these high salaries are in order to employ high-calibre staff.

A spokesperson said: “Bolton Council operates a budget of £450 million a year and we provide hundreds of essential services.

“During the pandemic, we have faced additional challenges to keep schools open as well as maintaining other essential services despite restrictions and staff shortages.

“Bolton was on the frontline of the UK’s response to the Delta Variant and the council received national recognition as an example for other authorities to follow.

“In order to deliver outcomes like this effectively, it is essential that we employ highly qualified, experienced and skilled staff and pay them accordingly. This is in line with salaries at other local authorities.”

The TaxPayers Alliance has faced criticism for its lack of transparency about donors, while its claims to be a non-partisan organisation were challenged after former campaigns manager Susie Squire left to become head of press for David Cameron.

The group’s founder, Matthew Elliot, also went on to found Conservative Friends of Russia in 2012.

This year's research found that as well as Mr Oakman’s £185,385 a year salary, which has risen from £180,423 in 2021, the council also employs three “undisclosed” members of staff who earn a combined total of £422,500 per annum.

Six-figure salaries have also been paid to Bolton Council’s Deputy Chief Executive Sue Johnson, Director of Public Health Dr Helen Lowey, Director of Place Jon Dyson, and borough solicitor Helen Gorman.

This comes after Bolton Council voted to approve a council tax rise of 3.8 per cent, which includes the mayoral precept decided by Metro Mayor Andy Burnham in February.