DEVON County Council chief Phil Norrey has appeared on a list of the country's highest paid local authority bosses.

Trade union GMB has published the names to reveal those earning more than £150,000.

Mr Norrey was said to have earned £187,246 in 2009/10, including pension contributions.

The highest paid council boss in the South West is Kevin Laverty, of Cornwall County Council, who earned £238,800 in 2009/10.

For the study, the GMB examined the most recent published accounts for 2009/10 for 151 county councils.

It also included the accounts of unitary authorities, London and metropolitan boroughs in England.

The study showed that two chief executives earned more than £300,000 but this included the Cumbria County Council chief executive who got £351,169 in pension contributions.

Fourteen bosses earned between £250,000 and £300,000 and 62 earned between £200,000 and £250,000.

A total of 51 earned between £150,000 and £200,000.

Richard Ascough, GMB regional secretary, said: "These figures can be revealed at a time when councils say they are hard-up and are slashing jobs and services while telling staff to put up with a pay freeze."