Former Labour Caerphilly council chief executive Anthony O'Sullivan, 60, was suspended in 2013 over claims he gave himself a pay rise but continued to receive his £137,000 annual salary

A Labour council's chief executive has been sacked after six years on full pay of £137,000 a year despite being suspended.

Anthony O'Sullivan, 60, was suspended from his plush office in 2013 over claims he gave himself a pay rise when other staff had a wage freeze.

But Mr O'Sullivan continued receiving his £137,000 annual chief executive's salary despite not actually working for six-and-a-half years.

The dispute has cost Caerphilly County Borough Council up to £4 million despite 746 council workers losing their jobs due to lack of funding.

An independent investigation was launched by the Welsh Government and the council chief and the report said Mr O'Sullivan was 'grossly negligent.'

'I have nothing to apologise to anybody for', Mr O'Sullivan told the BBC.

'This is about this viscous, vilifying media campaign that has gone on for six years, where I've had no right of reply.'

Caerphilly County Borough Council offices in Ystrad Mynach, South Wales. The dispute has cost the council up to £4 million despite 746 council workers losing their jobs due to lack of funding

He added: 'There are two sides to every story - I have had no opportunity to present mine.'

The row was sparked over claims Mr O'Sullivan, deputy Nigel Barnett and head of legal services Daniel Perkins authorised a 20 per cent pay rise for senior officers in 2012.

Criminal charges were dropped in 2015 and the two other men agreed payouts worth £300,000 between them.

But no agreement was made with Mr O'Sullivan and he was put on special leave, continuing to receive his salary.

Council interim leader Barbara Jones said: 'We regret the amount of time and money that has been spent on this matter, but we had no choice other than to follow the agreed statutory process.

'It should also be noted that during this time we had to allow criminal investigations to proceed, which added almost two-and-a-half years to the overall time frame.'

Jess Turner, of the union Unison Cymru, said the issue should have been sorted 'years ago'.

She said: 'Staff are absolutely sick of it and the council needs to move on.

'Since 2010, severe spending cuts driven from Westminster have cost the jobs of 746 Caerphilly council workers, yet as much as £6 million has been ploughed into a single issue.'

Caerphilly AM Hefin David said he was 'relieved that the saga is over' but it had taken 'too long to get to this point'.

After his sacking Mr O'Sullivan said: 'What I would say to the people of Caerphilly now is wait until the employment tribunal takes place in public, wait until the full facts emerge in the public domain. Then make a reasoned decision.'

He added the decision was made 'clearly on political ground' and the matter 'is far from concluded.'

Mr O'Sullivan said he would be appealing the decision to sack him at an employment tribunal.