THE first of Darwen's 'lost' bridleways could soon be rediscovered.

For years, the east of the town has been short on bridleways after they were reclassified by Lancashire County Council as footpaths, despite there being hundreds of horses in the area.

Campaigners have worked to try to get the horse trails reinstated, and now they could be one step closer to success.

Darwen MP Janet Anderson has met council bosses, and today revealed that a number of bridleways had been picked as possibilities to be returned to bridleway status.

She said: "It's a very time-consuming project trying to identify where the bridleways are and then talk to the owners and so on.

"They're hoping to move ahead possibly with two bridleways in the near future. What we want to do is build up a network in Darwen, not just for Darwen but as a tourist opportunity.

"They have identified two possible bridleways within Darwen which we hope will be the first ones to be designated. That is brilliant news."

According to the North Bolton and Darwen Bridleways Group, a study carried out last summer found 629 horses between Edgworth and Pickup Bank, but no bridleways.

Tracy McClusky, chairman of the group, has been leading the campaign.

She said: "This is good news. What has happened in the past is that the land belongs to somebody, and when someone else moves into the house or farm, they look at the plans and see a public footpath. Then they close it to horseriders.

"Lots of local people still think they're bridleways, and they should be."

The bridleways would eventually help to link Darwen with Bolton and the existing 'Mary Towneley Loop,' a 42-mile section of the soon-to-be-opened Pennine Bridleway around Burnley, the brainchild of the Countryside Agency.

Adam Scott, director of planning and regeneration for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We are discussing possible routes with land owners, and we are seeking funding from a variety of resources including the landfill tax credit scheme and the Regional Development Agency.

"Some of the routes will open up the countryside to disabled and less mobile people.

"There are two or three sites we are looking to open up in a first phase."