AN MP has accused Blackburn with Darwen Council of ‘airbrushing’ part of his constituency from its official correspondence.

Darwen MP Jake Berry has criticised the authority after ‘Blackburn Borough Council’ was stamped on a letter, its name before the towns unified around 20 years ago.

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The council said a new stamp and franking machine would cost more then £20,000 and financial constraints mean it has to prioritise ‘vital services’.

Mr Berry said: “I was extremely unhappy to see our town airbrushed from the council’s official correspondence.

“It has especially annoyed me as it was only last year that Councillor Mohammed Khan complained about using the correct name.”

A row broke out in 2016 when council leader Cllr Khan asked Mr Berry to stop referring to the authority as Blackburn Council.

Mr Berry said he would not apologise for this as ‘Blackburn was pretty much all officials seem to be interested in’.

Town councillor Lynn Perkins said: “The stamp just confirms what everyone in Darwen already knows, that the Labour-run council’s priority is Blackburn.

“Just look at the millions that have been spent on the new bus station, market and town centre, while Darwen is left with nothing.”

Cllr Khan said: “Blackburn with Darwen Council is very much a unified partnership.

“This stamp and franking machine originated before Blackburn and Darwen joined together as a borough council and would cost more than £20,000 to replace.

“We feel that during these times of substantial budget cuts we have to prioritise spending.” and would rather focus on vital services such as adult social care and the more vulnerable members of our community.