Southern Times Messenger: Londonlife What's happening in the Old Dart

OLDHAM FOLDEM

CRACKPOT council chiefs spent pound stg. 100,000 rebranding their town - and ended up with a big circle above the name Oldham.

Taxpayers in the town - motto Dare to be wise - yesterday savaged their local authority and branded its new logo a waste of money.

Retired labourer John Wrigglesworth, 64, said: ``It's a disgrace. Spending pound stg. 100,000 on a giant letter O makes us look idiots.''

Housewife Victoria Kileen, 40, said: ``They should have spent the money on things like hospitals, schools and roads.''

The council hired Manchester design firm Hemisphere to dream up a logo in a bid to improve Oldham's image following the 2001 race riots.

The council says it is a ``symbol of unity'' that reflects Oldham's down-to-earth character and has a tone of voice that embraces the many individual elements that make up Oldham.

The TaxPayers' Alliance said: ``A logo does not improve people's lives.

``Councils should focus on the job in hand rather than ego projects.''