A total of 339 staff employed by Medway Council are on at least £50,000 a year, today's Medway Messenger reveals.

And the number getting over £100,000 has jumped from two to five. These figures do not include any employees at Medway’s schools.

The salaries of the council’s three most senior officers have also been released. Top of the pay scale is chief executive Neil Davies. His salary went up from £132,145 to £140,646 last year, equal to £386 a day.

But with fees, allowances, expenses and pensions payments he netted £185,146, and became the first council employee in Medway to top £500 a day.

This compares to the £197,000 offered to Kent County Council’s new chief Katherine Kerswell.

The Statement of Accounts for the council reveals who got what for the very first time under rules introduced last year by the Labour government.

See the full report in today's Medway Messenger.