Bolton Council has been slammed in a national report on the way local authorities treat war widows and pensioners. Saga Magazine, for the over 50s, has carried out a survey on which councils refuse full reductions in council tax and rent. They classify 458 councils in England, Wales and Scotland as "the good, the bad and the ugly."

Bolton is one of 79 councils in "the bad" section who all take something from either a war pension or a widow's pension towards housing or council tax benefit.

Bolton does rate better than most in that it disregards war disablement pensions when calculating entitlement for housing or council tax benefit.

But the council comes under fire for only allowing £10 of a war widow's pension.

Cllr Bob Howarth, Bolton Council leader, admitted that he would like to improve this.

"It is one of our positive options for next year. But I cannot make any promises, with the financial situation we are likely to face."

Council chiefs fear they could have to cut to £8 million from their budget in the New Year.

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