KITTY Ussher claims Burnley's poor transport links are forcing people to sacrifice well-paid jobs in order to live in the borough.

The Labour MP said the lack of a direct rail link between Burnley and Manchester was forcing people to give up jobs in the city and settle for less well-paid employment locally.

Mrs Ussher made the claim in the House of Commons as she backed plans to reinstate a direct service between the East Lancashire town and the city.

And she said the project could do for Burnley what the canals - which made the area the cotton capital of the world - did for the town in the industrial revolution.

As part of the multi-million pound Elevate scheme regeneration bosses want to reinstate a small stretch of track called the Todmorden curve which would allow direct rail services.

Mrs Ussher said the project would be welcome throughout East Lancashire.

She said: "Burnley is a mere 30 miles from Manchester, but there is no direct train line between them.

"My constituents either get the bus - which offers a decent service but is not always reliable at peak, rush-hour times - or they have to change trains at Blackburn or Hebden Bridge or, I am sorry to say, they give up their jobs in the city.

"I do not think that people should have to choose between their careers and their communities in that way."

As part of the Elevate programme former Manchester music mogul Anthony Wilson and his partner Yvette Livesey, have included the reopening of the railway line on a list of major leisure and tourism projects which could be realistically delivered in the next few years.

The pair, recruited by Elevate, claim the laying of the track could cost just £600,000 - although running it would be more costly.

Mrs Ussher said direct services between the two areas would create jobs, investment and attract tourists to the area.

Comparing the project to building the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Mrs Ussher added the reason industrialists built cotton mills in Burnley was because the waterway already existed, giving them a trade route, rather than being built because of the mills.

Mrs Ussher said: "The same is true today: better rail links into the booming cities are a tool to regenerate towns such as mine.

"They will enable my constituents to commute to higher-paid jobs and make it easier for city folk to come and relax in a bit of Pennine Lancashire."

* What's your view? Have your say by submitting your comments below * What's your view? Have your say by submitting your comments below