TOWN shopping areas are being brightened up with a repainting of all street furniture along the main high streets.

Accrington town centre and Great Harwood high street have already been completed, with work continuing in Clayton-le-Moors, Oswaldtwistle and Rishton.

Cllr Joyce Plummer, Hyndburn Council cabinet portfolio holder for resources, said: "This funding has enabled our teams to undertake much needed maintenance work in our townships, which is wonderful as our residents return safely to shopping in our high streets.

"Coming up to Christmas, more people are in our centres, so we're glad to be able to provide streets that are more welcoming to Hyndburn shoppers and visitors from other areas."

Council leader Miles Parkinson said: "Having seen the completed work in Great Harwood and Accrington myself, I’m glad we’ve been able to use this valuable external funding to improve the appearance of Hyndburn’s shopping thoroughfares.

"In the run up to Christmas it’s great to see people out again on our High Streets, supporting local businesses and engaging with their communities."

The work is being paid for with a European funded 're-opening the high streets' grant of £71,676 from 2019/20, which was matched by a 'welcome back' grant for the same total this year.

The Welcome Back Fund forms part of the wider support provided by Government to help communities and businesses protect jobs, support the most vulnerable and ensure no one is left behind.

In particular, it enables local authorities in England to put additional measures in place to promote a safe environment for local trade and tourism, especially as high streets economies reopen.