A PAY-OFF package to the men responsible for Rochdale's "bleak" education provision was today condemned as "totally unacceptable" by a leading councillor.

Rochdale Liberal Democrat leader Paul Rowen said education director Brian Atkinson and his deputy Selwyn Hodge should be sacked and not given an early retirement "golden handshake."

He said the pair and another senior officer should have been suspended four months ago when an initial Ofsted report into the performance of the authority first highlighted poor management.

And he said the current deal - to be considered by the council on Monday was "not acceptable."

"I think this sends out the wrong message," said Coun Rowen. "As a politician, I am accountable to the electorate. And I think that the same accountability should be shown by senior officers."