THE salaries of Kent County Council's top officers are to be disclosed after all following a change of heart by the authority's chief executive.

On Thursday, Kent Online revealed how KCC's chief executive Peter Gilroy had intervened to block the release of the identities of employees earning more than £100,000 a year.

Details of who had been paid above that sum were published last by the Taxpayers' Alliance in what was dubbed a "town hall rich list".

Mr Gilroy said he did not want staff to be exposed to the kind of personal abuse he had endured after being identified as the highest paid council chief executive.

His intervention came despite being advised by his own officials that under the Freedom of Information Act, the council ought to publish the details.

Now Mr Gilroy says he has changed his mind after discussions with the council's legal bosses. However, it is not yet known when the information wll be available.

Mr Gilroy said he remained concerned that publishing the identities of staff could have repercussions.

KCC has confirmed that 16 staff earned more than £100,000 last year, two more than in 2005-2006.