JUST eight senior bosses at Worcestershire County Council cost taxpayers more than £1 million between them last year, figures have revealed.

The huge sum, which includes pension top-ups and expenses accounts, included £195,476 for chief executive Clare Marchant and six-figure salaries for three other directors.

County Hall's accounts for the 2015/16 financial year reveal:

- Eight senior bosses took home a combined £847,150 in pay and a whopping £109,017 in pension top-ups

- Ms Marchant claimed £1,422 in expenses allowances while a second top boss, former health director Dr Richard Harling, who has since left, claimed £1,142

- The director responsible for the economy and infrastructure John Hobbs was paid £120,633 as the second highest earner, and claimed just £120 in expenses

- When National Insurance is included the eight top earners cost the public purse £1,050,624

The figures also show how the council's chief finance officer Sean Pearce pocketed a £6,049 pay rise, taking his salary to £97,776, although it reflects a higher workload after the role of director of resources was deleted.

Sander Kristel, the former director of commercial and change who now looks after adult health in the county, took home £116,219 and had a pension top-up of £14,462.

Ms Marchant's pay was £155,523, while her pension cost £19,352, with National Insurance and expenses taking the total bill to £195,476.

The findings have led to fresh criticism from the opposition Labour group leader, Councillor Peter McDonald, to curb pay and perks for the top brass.

"We should reduce these salaries and put some more money into front line services," said Councillor McDonald.

"What's going on is disgraceful, County Hall has become a money printing machine for the top earners - when things are being cut you cannot justify six-figure earnings."

Only last week he reiterated a suggestion that the role of chief executive should be deleted, with opposition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats being severely critical of his tactic.

But the authority has responded by insisting it is "a low payer" compared to similar sized organisations.

It also says the expenses accounts are to compensate staff who need to spend money "as part of their duties".

A council spokesman said: "We are committed to being transparent about the salaries we pay.

"We have an annual total expenditure of more than a billion pounds.

"Compared to similar sized organisations and companies, the council is a low payer when it comes to all its senior employees.

"The council has not increased the number of senior officer posts apart from the addition of the director of public health, who has joined us due to the transfer of responsibilities for public health from the NHS to local government."

The accounts for last year also published the salaries paid to two heads of service workers who were 'acting up' after Dr Harling's departure, with the council saying it wanted to be as open and transparent as possible with its data.

All workers will get pay rises of one per cent this year, although those on the National Living Wage will get four per cent, from £7.20 to £7.50 an hour in April.