A MAJOR clean-up campaign designed to transform the image of the River Darwen has been launched.

The Darwen River Valley Initiative is a partnership of businesses, local authority representatives, community groups and government agencies.

The ambitious project will target the problems of sewage pollution, industrial discharges and dereliction.

And it will examine the potential for redevelopment of heritage buildings, nature conservation and access from urban areas along the river, part of which flows through Darwen and Blackburn. The work is part of the Mersey Basin Campaign which was set up to clean-up rivers, streams and canals in the region by the year 2010 and encourage bankside regeneration by communities.

Dr Jim Leeming, DRVI chairman said: "It is not going to happen overnight but at the end of the day we will have an asset everybody can enjoy.

"The River Darwen will be brought back to life for the benefit of the whole community."

The first community event will be held in Ashton Park, Darwen, on Sunday, October 13, and will involve clearing rubbish from the river and planting trees.

For further information or to pledge support contact DRVI co-ordinator David Hortin on 265163.

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