A £800,000 major regeneration scheme that will give a facelift to two dilapidated streets has got under way.

Over the next six months, 35 houses in Blackpool Street and South Shore Street, Oswaldtwistle, will be given a complete overhaul in a bid to make the area a more desirable place to live.

Residents have complained that the depressing look of the streets has led to increased anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and an apathy over house appearances.

Many of the terrace houses have fallen into disrepair since being bought by landlords for the rental market.

The area is also blighted by six properties purchased by Hyndburn Council in 2004 with an Elevate Housing Market Renewal grant.

These are unfit to live in and have been boarded up.

Part of the £800,000 investment from the council and the Elevate scheme will be used to fully refurbish and improve the long-term vacant and run down properties.

The work will include new kitchens, bathrooms, rewiring, heating systems, doors and windows, with the intention of extending the property life by 100 years.

The sale of the houses to private owners makes the regeneration scheme self funding, as any profit that the council makes will be reinvested in further work on the two streets.

Every house on the two streets will have free work carried out to stone cladding, paint work, roofs, insulation and rainwater systems.

As part of the package, private residents have also been able to apply for an interest free loan of up to £25,000 to carry out improvements and repairs to their homes.

The loan is repayable when the property is sold.

The revamp is part of the council's ongoing project to redevelop areas where housing standards are poor.

Coun Peter Britcliffe, leader of the council said: "I am delighted that this scheme has started.

"This is a major opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and bring back life to these two streets, both of which now have a sustainable future thanks to investment from Hyndburn Council and Elevate."