IT'S the battle of the sexes that has taken seven years to work out - and left thousands of men in line for a pay cut.

Hampshire County Council chief Peter Robertson is writing to every one of his 27,000 employees to unveil a new wage structure that will finally close the pay gap between his male and female workers - and leave most women better off.

But Mr Robertson - who earns £199,000 of council tax-payer's money - and his fellow top bosses will not see any changes to their salaries.

Nor will the changes affect councillors' salaries.

The new banding system could come into force for council staff on April 1 - but leave around 5,000 mostly male employees facing a cut in their wage.

For the full story see tocat's Daily Echo