THE search for budget savings and the threat to council jobs continues in Bury.

Town hall bosses are trying to find £9.8 million to balance the budget, with the possibility of losing 75 posts.

The deadline for staff asking for voluntary redundancy or early retirement has now passed, and around 150 people applied. However, the majority of these have not been accepted because the job they carry out has to continue.

A third list of possible cuts, likely to be the most controversial, is being drawn up. This follows earlier 'first option' plans to increase the price of school meals and the cost of car parking.

A second list includes transferring the management of three old folks' homes to the not-for-profit sector; closing down the policy unit (with the loss of three full-time equivalent jobs); closing one of the two family centres (two jobs); and reducing standards of street cleaning (six posts).