Bradford Council has failed to recruit anyone to two top education posts - despite offering salaries of £110,000 and £90,000.

Leaders at the authority are now taking the unprecedented step of bringing in a firm of head-hunters. They admit the jobs are not for the faint-hearted.

One problem could be that applicants are waiting for SERCO, the Council's new private-sector partner, to advertise its top jobs - on salaries that will dwarf those on offer at City Hall.

SERCO will soon be assembling its top team to effect a turnaround in the performance of Bradford schools.

The private company, which recorded a 20 per cent increase in profit in February, is banking on strong management to transform the fortunes of Bradford Education - exposed by Ofsted last year as badly letting down local schools.

The Council has advertised for a new Director of Education and a new Assistant Chief Executive (Education, Community and Social Care). The salaries are advertised as £90,000 and £110,0000, with "more available for an outstanding candidate".

But bosses at City Hall say they have been unable to assemble a shortlist for either job. Chief executive Ian Stewart said: "We have agreed to go to head-hunters to increase the size of the number of candidates we will interview.

"For the assistant chief executive post we've agreed to go to two different firms of head-hunters to create a short list."

He acknowledged that top managers employed by SERCO will be on higher pay.

"It will be very interesting when SERCO come here and disclose what they all pay their directors," he said.

"They will be on a substantially higher salary, plus car, plus share options."

Councillor Ralph Berry, a member of the appointments panel for the education director post, said: "It isn't a job for a weak heart. It's a very important post and we shouldn't proceed until we have a full shortlist."