WORK on improving the look of houses in Melrose Street, Nicholas Street and Edensor Street, Darwen, is set to begin in the new year.

Blackburn with Darwen's full council meeting was told last night that money from the government's Housing Market Renewal programme would be used to carry out the work.

Consultants have also been appointed to look at the St Peter's Church Conservation Area as part of the facelift programme.

Meanwhile, work on demolishing the Two Gates estate to make way for a new one is expected to be completed within two months.

But a date has yet to be confirmed for the demolition of houses in the Redearth Road area.