BLACKBURN MP Kate Hollern was at hand to join Northern Rail boss Liam Sumpter and the official launch of the town's half-hourly service to Manchester.

The new every 30 minute trains will start on December 10 also linking in Darwen, Clitheroe and Bolton.

Mrs Hollern said: "This is fantastic news.

"It will help people in Blackburn commute to Manchester for jobs and vice-versa.

"We now have a fantastic town centre here and it will help people get to and from it more easily."

Mr Sumpter, Norther's regional director, said: "This is a superb day for the company and its passengers.

"They can now see in front of them the first stage of our modernisation project to improve their journeys.

"We are no longer talking about jam tomorrow, our customers are now receiving jam today.

"And there is more to come in terms of new trains and better services."

Graham Cowley, chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's Growth Deal Management Board, said: "This is a real step forward in connecting up Blackburn and the North of England which is vital to our economic future."