Labour councillors have set up their own shadow cabinet in City Hall to challenge Tories and Liberal Democrats on the hung Council.

The move follows criticism that the Labour group has "taken its bat home" by refusing to accept portfolio jobs after it lost control in the elections two years ago.

The four Labour members of the executive committees receive allowances of £17,950 the same as Tory and Liberal Democrat members who have the extra responsibility of holding portfolios for all Council services.

Now Labour has set up a nine-member cabinet team which is intended to hold the Tories and LibDems to account for their actions.

The move comes with the hung Council on a knife edge after last month's election resulted in 38 seats each for the Tories and Labour, 12 Liberal Democrats and two Green party members.

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said the shadow cabinet would not get extra allowances.

"Shadow cabinet members are committed to serving the people of this district without the financial reward for doing so," he said.

"We would not accept portfolios because it was clear the Tories and Liberal Democrats continue to have an agreement. We did not agree with their budget and believe they have got their priorities for the district wrong."

Tory Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said Labour executive committee members had drawn the same allowances in the past as portfolio holders who had a very heavy workload.

She added: "They have refused to play a constructive part which has been to the detriment of the Council in a hung situation."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said: "We have had a shadow structure running for two years, so the question to ask is what have they been doing in that time?

"But I would welcome anything which involves participation in local democracy."

The council's portfolio members are Liberal Democrat councillor David Ward (education), Tory councillor Simon Cooke (corporate and regeneration), Tory councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Environment), Tory councillor Kris Hopkins (community), Councillor Margaret Eaton (Council leader).

The highest allowance of £24,950 goes to the Council leader.

All councillors get a £7,700 basic allowance and executive members are paid an extra £10,250.

The total paid out in allowances is more than £1 million.

The Council has appointed an independent panel to examine its allowance system. It is expected to announce its findings next month.