POPULATION levels in Pendle and Rossendale have fallen during the 1990s, according to the latest official figures.

Around 83,000 people were living in the Pendle area in June 1997 - 2,000 down on figures for 1991.

And in Rossendale there were 64,600 residents - 1,800 less than in 1991 and the biggest percentage decrease in the whole of Lancashire.

The figures, compiled by the Office for National Statistics, give the Registrar General's estimates of population levels in Britain at June 30, 1997.

In Burnley population levels were also significantly lower than they were in 1991 although there has been a slight increase on estimated population levels from 1996.

In 1997 there were an estimated 90,900 people living in Burnley compared to 90,500 in 1996 and 92,200 in 1991. Elsewhere in East Lancashire population levels are rising - particularly in the Ribble Valley where there are 53,000 residents compared to 52,700 in 1996 and 52,100 in 1991.

In Blackburn there are now estimated to be 139,400 residents compared to 137,900 in 1991 while in Hyndburn there are now around 79,600 residents compared to 79,000 in 1991.

The biggest population falls in the North West as a whole are in the cities of Manchester (down 2.5 per cent from 1991) and Liverpool (down 3.5 per cent from 1991).

Lancaster has experienced the largest population increase with levels rising by more than 5 per cent since 1991.

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