COUNCIL leaders in East Lancashire remain committed to 'going it alone' despite missing out in the latest round of local government reshuffles.

Local Goverment Minister John Healey has announced that new 'super-councils' will take control of services in Cornwall, Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire.

But even though district councils locally were told their bids for unitary status - soemthing which Blackburn with Darwen Council already has - would not be successful this time around, it has not dampened the enthusisasm of council bosses to break free from Lancashire County Council control.

Burnley and Pendle councils have wanted to unite to create a new Pennine authority - and Burnley council leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle has reaffirmed his coalition's commitment to ensuring that dream becomes a reality.

He said: "We are still hopeful that we can bid to become a unitary authority in future.

"We are looking at various methods of joint working with Pendle council, to offer more efficient services for our residents.

"Our one problem is the totally incompetent county council, which has held back this town and we are desperate to get control of our own destiny and go into partnership with Pendle as quickly as possible.

"We understand that this issue will be looked at again and we are constantly pressing our case to become a unitary authority.

"We would much rather have this than the mismatch of two unitary authorities in Blackburn and Blackpool, Lancashire County Council, and the district councils, which we currently have now."

Hyndburn council pulled out of talks to become a unitary authority after it became clear, from politicals sources that their bid stood little chance of success, according to council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe.

But he said that this would not prevent Hyndburn from bidding to break away from Lancashire County Council control in future.

"We realise that we cannot provide all services ourselves and we would look to buy things in from other authorities like Blackburn, Lancashire or whoever was appropriate," he said.

Coun Britcliffe said that the Rowntree Trust, the body responsible for assessing unitary status bids, was particularly interested in Hyndburn's model of how services could be provided by smaller authorities.

Rossendale and Ribble Valley councils also withdrew from the unitary status system at an earlier stage. The prospect of Rossendale combining with Pendle council was mooted at one point but the latter opted instead for a possible merger with Burnley.