IMAGE may be an abstract concept, but the ones presented by our East Lancashire towns are hugely important when it comes to attracting visitors and new investment.

For intangible though such perceptions may be, they are real and solid factors in the efforts to boost our towns' prosperity -- because it is the places with bright, positive and vibrant images that thrive.

Appearance and reputation do indeed count in the quest for new business, extra shoppers, increased spending power, higher wages and new jobs.

As a result, every effort towards image improvement deserves encouragement -- as does the new initiative launched by council marketing chiefs whose task it is to 'sell' Blackburn.

In a scheme worthy of consideration by other councils in East Lancashire, they are devising distinctive zones within the town centre, each with different characteristics and attractions, which, it is hoped, will draw in more visitors.

It has begun with the creation of a 'Cathedral Quarter' centred around the town's cathedral church and refurbished Darwen Street and historical Fleming Square -- an area earmarked for high-quality retailing, leisure and housing.

The new zone is one of four being created. The others are the College and Creative Quarter, based around Blackburn College and designed to attract hi-tech business and be the location of student housing; a Commercial District on the edge of the town centre where, it is hoped, more white-collar jobs will locate to join the professions already based there; and the Town-centre retail core where the aim is attract national retailers and independent firms.

Though the initiative is in its early stages it deserves support as part of the overall determined and imaginative efforts to regenerate the town centre and make it a thriving, bright up-market place where people will want to work and live and others will want to shop and enjoy themselves.