MORE THAN 20 properties have been sold by the council, mostly in an effort to raise money.

Cllr Eamonn O'Brien said 26 properties had been sold off by Bury Council in this financial year.

At the council meeting last Wednesday, Cllr Iain Gartside asked whether shedding council assets was the 'road to insolvency'.

Finance and housing cabinet member Cllr O'Brien explained the assets which had been sold off, including commercial premises in Parsons Lane, Bury and land behind a house in Tottington, were not bringing in revenue.

Cllr O'Brien said: "I have looked at investing in our assets which do give a good return, like the Manchester Airports Group."

Last month, Bury's cabinet agreed to support a shareholder loan for the Manchester Airports Group, which it holds shares in along with the other Manchester councils.

This year £4.5 million from the airport dividend went to supporting the council's budget.