NEWS that Nelson was one of the towns selected to receive up to £25 million in funding to help with regeneration was welcomed across the political divide.

Labour leader of Pendle Council, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, and Conservative MP for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson, agreed the funding could be transformative for Nelson.

Cllr Iqbal said: "I am delighted as leader of Pendle Council to announce after hard work by fellow Labour councillors across Nelson that we have been successful in a government bid for up to £25 million pounds from the Towns Fund.

"At the heart of our bid is that it will improve connectivity, provide vital social and cultural infrastructure and boost growth - with local people having a major say on how the money is spent.

"I am determined to continue to fight for more funding across Pendle for all our town centres."

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Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: "I am over the moon.

"This announcement of up to £25 million funding for a range of projects across Nelson will be transformative and is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reverse the decades of long decline.

"Over the last few years we have seen millions of pounds invested at the outstanding Nelson and Colne College, two brand new primary school buildings (St Pauls & Whitefield) and investments in sporting facilities, but this funding means we can really transform the area.

"I will be working with Pendle Council, Lancashire County Council, our local college, schools and residents to see how they want this money to be spent.”