District councils should push ahead with sharing services but avoid wholescale mergers, local government secretary Eric Pickles told LGA delegates at their conference.

Speaking to a District Councils Network meeting at the conference Mr Pickles said: 'I would urge you with all your services, especially council tax benefit, planning and refuse collection to look at ways of working closely together. It will protect you as well as providing better services. But I wouldn't want to see formal mergers until sharing arrangements have been proved to work.'