AXED Copeland boss Paul Walker has received a £119,321 golden handshake from the council, The Whitehaven News can exclusively reveal.

Mr Walker officially left his position as chief executive on Friday - the day after councillors unanimously voted to make his job redundant.

The six-figure payout is Mr Walker's "contractual entitlement", says mayor Mike Starkie, in terms of salary in lieu of working his notice period and a redundancy payment from a 33-year career in local government, including the last five at Copeland.

The council's removal of the chief executive position will save it £142,287 a year, a bulk of which is Mr Walker's £110,000-a-year salary.

"I reiterate that this decision is not a reflection of Mr Walker's work, but is purely economic and strategy-related.

"The council does not require the role of a chief executive in this new, streamlined structure. Additionally, the deletion of this role - even with Mr Walker's termination payment - creates a significant cost saving for the council long term."

Mr Walker's responsibilities will be divided between Mr Starkie and directors Pat Graham, Julie Betteridge and Fiona Rooney. A number of other councils around the country that have an elected mayor have opted to dispense with the chief executive role.

The mayor added: "Mr Walker has been a valued member of the council's Corporate Leadership Team, who has successfully led the workforce through some significant periods of change.

"I hope all who know him will join me in wishing him every success in his future career."