BURNLEY's crippling housing problem was top of the agenda for a meeting between two of the town's councillors and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Peter Kenyon and Carole Galbraith were at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton with people from all over the North West for a private reception.

Coun Kenyon said: "We take every opportunity to lobby ministers on the need for massive investment to tackle the problem of Burnley's unfit and abandoned terraced housing.

"The last estimate was that Burnley alone needed £150 million compared to the £4 million or so a year we can currently spend.

"When you get the chance to make the case right at the top you have got to grab it with both hands."

Burnley has somewhere in the region of 4,000 empty homes, a problem which has been described by the town's MP Peter Pike as 'a millstone round our necks'.

Poor quality housing was also seen by the Burnley Task Force as being a major contributor to last year's riots.

The group that was established to examine the cause of the disturbances found that the "appalling conditions and environment that many residents have to ensure deserve immediate attention." Coun Galbraith said: "The Prime Minister was fully aware of the number of empty homes in East Lancashire and the impact large areas of desolation is having on people's lives.

"He also recognises that local councils cannot tackle these problems without government help."

Mr Pile, who has been pressing the Government and Tony Blair for money to tackle the problem of Burnley's empty housing stock, said: "I believe that we are winning our case and will soon get the positive response that we are looking for.

"We are all seeking to make Burnley a better place to live."