REGENERATION and business bosses today hit out at claims that East Lancashire was on the verge of a jobs melt-down, saying: "It isn't all doom and gloom."

The area's commerce chiefs spoke out after Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans pleaded in the House of Commons for ministers to save manufacturing jobs -- citing a list of the big job cuts which have hit East Lancashire over the past year.

Holding up a copy of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph which reported job losses during the last 12 months he said: "Manufacturing industry is vital to this country; we must not let it die.

However, a spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "It isn't all doom and gloom.

"We have received £25million through Single Regeneration Bid grants, regional development cash and funding for an education action zone. All of this helps improve the lives of people living in this area."

Nigel Rix, director of Hyndburn First -- the regeneration arm of Hyndburn Council -- said: "While there is no doubting the tragedies this area has witnessed recently, especially things like Leoni, it is important that we seen what has been done to lesson the blow.

"For example, very few of the people made redundant had to sign on.

"Firms like Callender Aeroparts have also expanded massively with our help. The Globe Centre, once an derelict mill with more than 1,000,000 sq ft of empty space is now home to 1,000 workers from more than 30 firms, training agencies and other organisations."