Four out a fab four.

Best ring tone is awarded to Sefton council's outgoing chief executive Graham Haywood.

At a cabinet meeting in June, proceedings were interrupted by a burst of the Great Escape film theme.

Hot-foot from his Dubai holiday home a bronzed Mr Haywood, hurriedly rooted in his pockets to stop disruption to the debate on the borough's new rubbish collection regime.

He will indeed be making a great escape today - his last day of work for the authority - with a handsome £236,000 early retirement package.

Which brings us nicely to Northern Rock's Piggy Bank of the Year award, which goes to... Phil Halsall, former finance director of Liverpool council.

Mr Halsall, will be taking early retirement in April, but effectively left the council in October.

The 50-year-old will receive an extra five years' enhancement on his pension package, worth around £420,000, and a lump sum of £80,000 - a total of £500,000.

This dwarfs the £230,000 paid to former Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow at the beginning of the year.

Paul Daniels award for Magician of the Year goes to Warren Bradley for pulling a rabbit out of the hat on local election night.

At around 1.30am on the night the Liberal Democrats appeared to be surrendering their overall control of Liverpool council.

With the final ward called the party only had 45 seats out of the total 90 - Liverpool was becoming a council in no overall control.

But moments later Cllr Bradley made his move and triumphantly announced to the assembled press corps that independent Cllr Nadia Stewart had crossed the floor to the Lib-Dems.

Sensationally the Lib-Dems now had 46 seats for an overall majority of one, and Cllr Stewart - who left Labour last year in an acrimonious fall out - had returned to haunt Labour leader Joe Anderson.

Cllr Bradley had declared game, set and match at the Liverpool Tennis Centre in Wavertree.

2009 Could Be a Big Year Award goes to Merseyside's 'lock 'em up' Sheriff Bernard Hogan-Howe.

The Chief Constable is on the shortlist to become Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

He is popular with the rank and file and if he gets the job London's gain will be Liverpool's loss.

The Real Story Yet to Emerge Award goes to Joanne Jennings who unexpectedly quit as chief executive of Liverpool One after 18 months in the top job, saying it was time to move to "new challenges".

Grosvenor said she plans to "take time out" before finding a new post.

Wedding Guest of the Year is Phil Redmond, creative director of the Culture Company.

Redmond's comparison of Capital of Culture to a Scouse wedding has gone down in legend.

In turn Most Underused Man of the Year goes to Redmond's hairdresser.

Busy Bee of the year goes to Steve Rotheram, Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

He is probably the busiest Lord Mayor in the history of the city having attended hundreds of events already, and his tenure doesn't end until May. Well done Steve.

His wife Sandra must also be wife of the year for accompanying Steve to these events and putting up with the disruption.

Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Sir Trevor Jones.

"Jones the vote" celebrated 40 years as an elected representative in 2008

Sir Trevor was first elected in 1968 in Church Ward, South Liverpool, notching up 40 years of service - an unparalleled achievement in modern times.

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