EAST Lancashire has received a £300,000 government cash boost to bring communities closer together.

The cash, from Home Office funding, was secured by a joint partnership bid by Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale Councils along with Lancashire County Council.

It will be spent on a range of community-based schemes although the exact details have still to be discussed.

An agency will also be set up to promote stronger communities, enhance cultural identity, improve life for disadvantaged groups and target harassment and discrimination.

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, who is a member of the East Lancashire Development Unit which put the bid together, said: "A lot of hard work has gone into this and a lot of midnight oil has been burnt.

"Working together was the key to success with this bid. The councils' strong partnership was instrumental in getting such a strong bid together and will be vital when the community work begins."

Each of the four areas, he said, would be able to decide how their share would be spent.

This could include employing a local development worker or staging a cultural event and campaigns to raise awareness could be held involving schools, workplaces or neighbourhood groups.

The agency will also look at legislation and give advice to councils on key policies as well as looking at raising funds to continue work in the future.

Coun Johnstone said: "Whatever the money is spent on, it should have a long lasting and positive effect for the community.

"It is also important that we look beyond this £300,000 to how we will continue to promote strong communities. We owe it to the people of East Lancashire to set up something that will last."

Brian Hobbs, chairman of Burnley Action Partnership, said: "This is great news for the whole of East Lancashire."