AN innovative proposal to promote environmentally friendly job creation schemes will form part of Lancaster City Council's bid for £15 million of European funding.

The idea, put forward by green members of Lancaster City Council, will see new jobs focus on sectors such as recycling, renewable energy, green transport and the clean up of contaminated land.

Green Cllr Emily Heath said: "We want to see local businesses, training colleges, and university researchers working in partnership to develop new technologies which cut pollution and waste.

"We already have some successful local businesses, like Eurowaste and Furniture Matters, who are blazing the way, and Lancaster University is developing its environmental research and making new links with industry.

"This is the right time and the right place to invest in a greener local economy - to generate long-term jobs for local unemployed people as well as to create a cleaner and healthier environment"