A MINISTER was today being asked to help sort out Burnley and Pendle's £200million plus problem - more than 3,000 empty and fast decaying privately owned homes.

The grim picture was being unveiled to Housing Minister Nick Raynsford when he visited Burnley and Pendle today.

But council and business bosses were also showing him renewal schemes and great improvements which can be achieved in private sector housing with government regeneration help.

"Give us us the cash and we will deliver homes fit for the 21st century," was the message to the housing supremo, who had expressed a personal wish to visit the area.

Private sector problems were top of the minister's agenda on the tour of the district which followed an invitation to Mr Raynsford from Burnley MP Peter Pike. Burnley alone has more than 3,000 empty and fast-decaying privately owned properties -- a problem which will cost at least £200million to put right.

Today Mr Raynsford was meeting community groups in both boroughs after arriving at Nelson town hall at the start of his visit.

He was taking a bus tour of Nelson town centre, visiting the much-improved Southfield renewal area as well as seeing housing in Colne. He was meeting members of Pendle Partnership, which has led the drive to win government regeneration cash. The tour was continuing into Burnley and Stoneyholme and Daneshouse, an area in the midst of major home renewal initiatives.

Next on the itinerary was a meeting with residents in Burnley Wood, the latest district of town successful in winning massive neighbourhood renewal cash. Before leaving town this afternoon, Mr Raynsford was going to Burnley Business Centre for presentations by local housing groups.

Both Burnley and Pendle were recently awarded major help from the government's single regeneration budget which is providing £32million towards projects costing some £117million.

But regeneration chiefs say that while they welcome all the help received, it did not go anywhere near addressing the private sector headache because of the very scale of the problem.

David Riley, Burnley's housing needs and strategy manager said the message to the minister was that East Lancashire had great housing needs, but had also demonstrated it could deliver whenever assistance was given.

And given more resources the area was well placed to deliver on the government's neighbourhood renewal agenda, he added.

Mr Pike, who said Mr Raynsford was a good friend and an excellent and capable minister, welcomed his visit, adding that further help was absolutely crucial to the future of private housing in the area.