'RESIDENTS in Hyndburn are not feeling the economic recovery'.

That was the message from the borough's Labour MP Graham Jones as he said his party would raise the minimum wage if it wins power at next year's general election.

Mr Jones said: "This is an important move that will end the scandal of five million Brits struggling to make ends meet because they are on low pay.

"But Labour understands that businesses need time to adjust their models to support higher wages. That’s why we will raise the national minimum wage over the five years of the next Parliament so businesses will have enough time to plan for the long-term goal of £8 an hour by 2020."