THE regeneration of the Burnley neighbourhood revealed as the seventh most deprived in England is well under way, according to a campaigner.

The Government’s deprivation index study found that part of the Trinity area, was the seventh most deprived in the country.

Residents, traders and councillors all blamed an increase in the number of rental properties owned by rogue landlords for the area’s demise.

But Wendy Graham, chairman of Trinity Action Group, said volunteers and council officers were already on with tackling the problem.

She made a rallying call to those who live around Accrington Road, bordered by Coal Clough Lane, Harold Street and Cog Lane, to do their part to aid the regeneration.

Mrs Graham said Burnley Council’s selective licensing team were making great strides in cracking down on irresponsible landlords.

She said: “The problem we have is with the private rented sector. In this area, like in other pockets of Burnley, the majority of properties are rented.

“But now we are getting to grips with things and the work being done by the selective licensing team is starting to bite.”

The selective licensing team work to drive up the standards of rented properties and can fine unregistered landlords.

Mrs Graham, 48, of Athol Street South, has lived in the area her entire life.

The grandmother-of-two urged residents to report any problem houses, landlords or tenants.

She said: “It’s all about information sharing, and people are starting to come forward. If they don’t know who to tell about a problem, they end up putting up with it.

“A lot of people really care about what is happening on their doorstep and there are a lot of good things happening in Burnley. But when you look around and all you see is boarded-up houses it completely overshadows all the good things that are happening in the town.

“We have got to work together on this.”