THE home of the Pendle Witches today received a £2million Hallowe’en lottery boost.

The cash will be aimed at both developing Pendle Hill’s tourist potential and preserving its wild country landscape.

Heritage Lottery funding cash was officially revealed to coincide with ‘the scariest day of the year’ and has been welcomed by politicians across East Lancashire.

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said: “Today is a very appropriate day to announce this grant.

“But Pendle Hill is a major asset to the whole of East Lancashire all year round and not just a beauty spot for Hallowe’en.”

Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson said the cash would do “incredible things” while the borough’s Labour leader Mohammed Iqbal hailed it as “fantastic news”.

Ribble Valley Council leader Stuart Hirst said it was “good news” that would benefit everyone living in the hill’s shadow.

For centuries Pendle Hill, home of the 10 witches executed at Lancaster Castle in 1612, has been the jewel in the crown of East Lancashire and an inspiration to poets, philosophers and painters.

The founder of the Quakers, George Fox, got the idea for his movement during a tranquil walk on the slopes of the hill.

The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) will run the £2million project in a four-year scheme creating five full-time jobs and 20 apprenticeships.

A Pendle Hill Story Map will be created including information, images and stories to develop better visitor information, tourism and business support and training for local ambassadors.

Local history groups will undertake research on the history of houses, developing archive and traditional building skills.

The project will restore the habitats of native species including lapwings, curlew and Dotterel and will protect peat bogs, grasslands and moorlands.

It will restore eight miles of dry stone walls and hedgerows and upgrade five miles of footpaths and walkways.

The cash will support topographical surveys, excavations, open days and community events at archaeological sites such as Portfield Hill Fort and local water mills.

A programme of educational activities will also target 20 schools and colleges in nearby towns.

The Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership programme will cover both sides of the hill, re-connecting communities with their landscape and their past.

The Heritage Lottery Fund’s North-West boss Sara Hilton said: “Pendle Hill is famous for its eerie past, and tales of the witch trials draw in many visitors every year – especially at Hallowe’en.

“But there is a lot more to Pendle and this project is designed to open up, preserve and share other parts of the area’s incredible heritage.”

A ‘delighted’ Mr Stephenson said: “The money will do incredible things and help bring so much to the area. It is simply brilliant.”