Harrow Borough Council’s returning chief executive 'thanked' the authority for giving him his job back in a parody twitter account.

The @MikeJLockwood account has been set up on the social media website under the name Michael Lockwood, with a picture of the chief executive, who was appointed back to the role by the council last month.

The biography on the account said: “Lucky Lockwood - Clear a parody, but the local government really is this ridiculous...”

Yesterday the account responded to a tweet from Harrow Council twitter account which said: “Looking for work or training? Come along to one of our upcoming job search support sessions.”

The fake chief executive replied: “@harrow_council Not any more, thanks. Got me a new job back in Harrow. #miketheboss.”

Another tweet reads: “Delighted to see @HarrowLabour are increasing Council Tax to fund my new job. Must ask for that chauffeur-driven Jaguar now.”

Mr Lockwood was appointed to the position last month by the Labour administration.

He previously held the job from April 2007 until November last year, when the role was scrapped by the then Conservative administration as a cost cutting measure.

Last week the council announced his annual salary would be £160,596, a reduction of more than £22,000 on the previous pay for the role.

Under the conditions of leaving his role last year he was received a severance package consisting of a compensation payment of £30,000 and Local Government Pension Scheme lump sum payment entitlement of £138,651.