I WAS outraged at the comments made by UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge saying the Mayor’s job should be voluntary, would he do his job as a MEP on a voluntary basis? I think not.

The Mayor plays an important part of the local community and considering what the Mayor has to do over the 12 month period, £23,000 is very little as this has to cover expenses.

Many of the elected Mayors have had to take a year off their ‘day job’ which pay a lot more than they receive in office as Mayor, to dedicate their time to the various fund raising charity events, of which there are sometimes three or four per day.

The money raised for charity is very much needed and gratefully received.

Maybe if some of the highly-paid MP’s and MEP’s did more charity work and less criticising of others our charities would benefit even more.

Sarah Alliband Wordsley