THE next stage of a review that could change the shape of Burnley’s Parliamentary boundary has begun.

More than 20,000 people responded to a national public consultation about the changes to the country’s constituencies.

The next stage of the 2018 review is to publish the representations so others may comment on them.

The proposal is to move Gawthorpe, Hapton with Park (covering Padiham) and Coalclough with Deerplay wards into what is now Hyndburn constituency, but change the constituency name to Accrington.

The Burnley constituency would expand northwards, taking in eight wards currently in Pendle and stretching up to, and including, Brierfield and Nelson.

The changes would not affect the borough boundaries or representation on Burnley Council.

A Burnley Council spokesman said interested parties have until Monday, March 27 to respond to the comments at www.bce2018.org.uk.