AN East Lancashire township has been given a second government grant towards a makeover of its high street.

In December Hyndburn Council received £273,000 for works to upgrade Queen Street, Blackburn Road and Church Street in Great Harwood.

The Whitehall cash came from the £7million High Street Accelerators programme.

Now following the creation of a ‘Great Harwood Town Panel’ it has been awarded an additional £500,000 to expand the works on Blackburn Road and Church Street.

Among the improvements include removal of dilapidated planting and street furniture, creation of new seating areas with planting and trees at several locations.

It is hoped the works will help to ‘design out’ anti-social behaviour and create new, pleasant, and aesthetically pleasing areas for residents to enjoy and socialise while shopping.

There will be landscaping improvements in front of the community building and work with the community to introduce hanging baskets and window boxes on the high street and try to liven up the streetscape.

Architects are currently creating sketch drawings for the works.

Hyndburn's Conservative MP Sara Britcliffe said: “This is great news for the town, and I have always been pushing for improvements to be made in my constituency.

“Great Harwood has already had £237,000 and this latest grant is thanks to the Great Harwood Town Panel bid for the new £500,000 funding.

“We know there have been some antisocial behaviour issues in the area and I will be excited to see the designs when they are done.

“Hopefully this will make the high street a place where people want to come and shop.”

Netherton ward's Labour Councillor Noordad Aziz said: "I would like to thank Great Harwood's councillors and panel chairman Peter Holden for all the work they have done to secure this grant.

"This extra money is welcome after 14 years of Conservative austerity and their asset stripping of Great Harwood."

Levelling Up minister Jacob Young said: “I want to congratulate Hyndburn on getting this extra cash to support their high street in Great Harwood, alongside the £20million we are investing into Hyndburn through the Levelling Up Fund and the wider support we are giving Great Harwood as a High Street Accelerator Pilot.

“I know how hard Sara Britcliffe MP has worked in conjunction with the council, to see Hyndburn's town centres revitalised and I hope this extra funding goes some way to supporting their ambitions of Levelling Up in Lancashire.”