AN MP has spoken with a representative of the treasury over his concerns for Burnley's housing market.

Burnley has around 4,000 empty homes, a situation described by its MP Peter Pike as a "millstone" around the town's neck.

Housing was also a central part of the Burnley Task Force report.

The report said that the Government, North West Development Agency and Housing Corporation must acknowledge that efforts to tackle exclusion, disadvantage and neighbourhood renewal would fail unless a concerted effort was made to tackle housing problems in Burnley, some of the worst in the country.

Mr Pike has written to the treasury, voicing his concerns over the property market and the low demand for housing in some of Burnley's wards.

Those wards include Burnley Wood, Daneshouse and Stoneyholme -- all affected by rioting in June.

In reply, a letter from the Treasury Chambers, Andrew Smith MP said: "I noted your concerns relating to the property market in East Lancashire, including the problem of low demand for housing in certain wards.

"I have asked that housing policy be given high priority in next year's spending review, and have asked officials to look into this specific issue as part of the preparatory work.

"I would like to draw your attention to the chancellor's announcement in the pre-Budget report of stamp duty relief on all property transactions up to the value of £150,000 in Britain's most deprived areas.

"The intention is to significantly raise or remove the limit for all non-residential transactions in qualifying areas, once possible European Community state aids issues have been resolved."