A REPORT on community action to improve the lives of residents in a problem-hit area of Nelson says significant progress has been made.

The Whitefield 2000 project has identified dozens of ways of tackling problems such as crime, unemployment and litter in the deprived Whitefield area.

The report, which sets out what has been achieved, is due to be published tomorrow.

Copies will be sent to every house in the area and a public meeting to discuss its findings is being held at the Silverman Hall, Nelson, on Tuesday.

The original Whitefield 2000 report in the spring highlighted residents' concerns about crime, vandalism, litter, unemployment and many other problems.

This latest study shows how those problems are being tackled.

A new police officer has been put on the beat in the area and the police have launched operations to crackdown on specific crimes such as street robbery and burglary.

Bids have been put in for Home Office and European Community funding for anti-vandalism and youth projects aimed at cutting crime.

On the jobs front, economic development in the area is one of Pendle Council's top priorities.

Whitefield is one of the areas earmarked to get help if Pendle gets £9 million of Single Regeneration Budget money.

Women-only keep fit classes are about to start in the area and there are improvements planned to local sports pitches.

Clean-up weekends involving the local community have been held and a concentrated anti-litter campaign involving residents and local groups is to be arranged.

Project spokesman Ian Galbraith said: "Significant progress has already been made in implementing improvements.

"All the organisations in Whitefield 2000 are committed to listening to the communities they serve.

"While it will never be possible to meet all the needs that people would like to be met, by holding ourselves accountable we can at least make sure that the reasons for decisions are fully understood and that the public has a real say in deciding prior ities."

Whitefield 2000 is a group of different agencies including the council, police, probation service and social services.

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