A MULTI-MILLION pound windfall is set to bring a jobs boost to East Lancashire.

More than £4.5 million of European funds has been won for 57 projects across the area. The projects include training courses for small business and grants to help promote tourism in the area.

The funding is part of the Objective Two programme for East Lancashsire which will in total bring more than £12 million of European grants to East Lancashire by 1999.

In total the latest projects to receive funding will help train more than 2,000 local people and assist more than 3,000 companies.

"These funds will further strengthen East Lancashire, helping to create a dynamic, job creating economy," said Councillor George Slynn, chairman of the East Lancashire Partnership.

A further round of applications for funding will be announced in July.

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