ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have congratulated Pendle Council for choosing a sustainable route to making Colne bloom.

Bosses of the Colne in Bloom project announced this week they will use an alternative to peat during planting.

Pendle Friends of the Earth hailed the move as "a step in the right direction" and said they hope other authorities will follow.

Brian Jackson, spokesman for the Pendle group, said: "Peat is usually dug out industrially and the bogs provide a natural habitat for hundreds of species.

"The peat takes thousands of years to build up but just a few years to destroy, so it's good that Pendle Council has chosen to use an alternative for the Colne in Bloom event.

"There are a lot of alternatives available and Friends of the Earth can give advice to anyone about how to get hold of them."