PAY rises dating back to April last year are being given to senior managers at the Bolton Primary Care Trust.

The managers are to be given the rises after their job descriptions changed and agreement was reached with the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority.

One senior manager, who has been given the job of Acting Director of Health Care Commissioning for six months, is to be paid at director level, which is around £60,000. The job will be advertised when the six months runs out next month.

Trust chief executive Kevin Snee said: "We are bringing the salaries of a small number of senior managers up because they have had changes of responsibility that warrant it.

"Their jobs have been re-evaluated and the rises have been approved by a panel at the strategic health authority."

Chairmen of Bolton's Local Health Groups will be given inflation-matching pay rises dating back to April 2003 of 4.6 per cent.