A DRIVE to get hundreds of women into the construction industry has been launched.

The Constructing The Future project will encourage women to get jobs in science, engineering, construction and technology - traditionally male careers.

The scheme has been launched after the Government gave the £250,000 needed to get it off the ground.

The project is being overseen by Elevate, the multi-million pound government scheme to transform East Lancashire's neighbourhoods.

Bosses came up with the idea for the project after Elevate said women made up only per cent of the UK's construction industry.

Constructing The Future will help women get jobs by allowing them to study professional qualifications and offering advice and support.

Initially 25 jobs are being created, five of which have been filled, but it is hoped the project will lead to hundreds of more women being employed.

Mariam Arshad, 18, from Burnley, is one of the first five to take part.

She is due to start a course at the Accrington campus of Accrington and Rossendale College to become a tenant liaison officer - ensuring homes will be built to specification.

Dr Andrew Platten of Elevate said: "We are delighted that we have been given the go-ahead.

"Working in the construction industry we have noticed a huge deficit of women and it was very important we campaigned for help and support for those who are missing out.

"Before long, there will be 25 more women working in East Lancashire's construction industry - but this is just the beginning of what we hope will become a shift in trends."

The Elevate project will see millions of pounds pumped into Blackburn, Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale over the next decade.

As well as transforming housing, parks and tourists attractions are to be built.

The area is to re-branded Pennine Lancashire to change people's perceptions.

The name was the brainchild of the late Manchester music mogul Anthony Wilson, who died last month from cancer, and his Oswaldtwistle-born partner Yvette Livesey.