THE DIRTY old River Darwen is to become the focus of a clean-up campaign that brings a major economic and environment boost along its banks.
For though far cleaner than it used to be, this East Lancashire river has a bad reputation to live down - that of pollution and industrial dereliction along where it flows.
It is an image that needs to be destroyed. And the initiative by the partnership of local industry, Blackburn Council and environment groups to transform the river into a tourist attraction, with thousands of pounds being invested in improving the water quality and the river's surroundings, is most welcome.
It is a big task. But it is one that can be done - as the spectacular success of the restoration of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal corridor has shown with the influx of new housing, industries and jobs.
This project deserves all the support it can get.
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