MILLIONS of pounds of funding for derelict housing in East Lancashire has been branded as ‘inadequate’ by councils.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported yesterday that empty and derelict homes will be brought back into use with the government money.

Towns across Lancashire will receive £7.6 million to be spent on refurbishment, with Hyndburn in line for the largest allocation in the county with £1.9 million.

Burnley has been allocated £1.8m, while Pendle will receive £669,000, with £413,000 for Blackburn with Darwen.

Chorley will get £183,000 and Rossendale £36,000 while the Ribble Valley has not been allocated any funding.

In other parts of England, Hull was awarded more than £11m and Liverpool was given £10m.

Greater Manchester shared £9m including £300,000 for Wigan and £3m for Manchester.

Councillor Yusuf Jan-Virmani, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for housing, said: “This money is not an adequate amount for Blackburn with Darwen but is nevertheless very welcome.

“We are constantly applying for more funding because it’s an uphill struggle and I think that this money will help the area enough.

“The only downside is that it’s not enough and it will not solve the housing problem that we have in this area.

“New funding is always a good thing and I hope it makes a difference to people’s lives.”

Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Burnley Council said: “What would be better would be if this funding was made available over a much longer period.

“If that was the case then we would be able to make much more of a difference that what we can do now with this amount.

“Any funding is good news but, in reality, we can’t change the housing market with this lump sum and we need more in order to do that.

“It’s good that we have been awarded so much but this is just another step towards our goal.”