Wandsworth Council paid 20 employees salaries of more than £100,000 last year, according to figures for 2007/2008.

The revelation comes at a time when many residents are struggling to make ends meet and amid warnings of cuts to council services and large-scale public sector job losses.

The combined earnings of the “Wandsworth 20” add up to more than £2m of taxpayer’s hard-earned cash.

Neighbouring Merton Council only pays five employees over £100,000, Richmond pays six and Kensington & Chelsea pays nine members of staff over £100,000.

Only Newham Council, one of the capital’s poorest boroughs, paid salaries of more than £100,000 to more employees than Wandsworth while only Hackney pays its chief executive more than the Brighter Borough’s Gerard Jones, who rakes in between £240,000 and £250,000 a year.

Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "In a time of recession Londoners are struggling to pay their tax bills and heating costs and will be disappointed to see where their money is going."

An NHS nurse would have to work for 10 years to earn £250,000 and a council care worker would have to work for nearly 20 years.

A council spokesman said: “Councils like Wandsworth are a £700m a year business. Senior officers have to manage that business and at the same time accept responsibility for meeting a host of perfomance and service targets. Given the risks, demands and pressures of the job it is important that this is recognised in remuneration packages.

“In addition, these staff have overseen an authority that has not only delivered the country's lowest tax bills for the past 20 years, but has also ensured that town hall services are among the best in the country.

“Under their leadership, no council anywhere has a better record of delivering such high quality, value for money services to residents.”