A DIRECT rail connection between Burnley and Manchester would provide a massive boost to the town's economy, the council leader has said.

Gordon Birtwistle said the re-opening of the Todmorden Curve, a defunct section of railway line, would allow people in the town to commute more easily to Manchester and vice versa.

A feasibility study completed in May showed completing the infrastructure for the line with a journey time of 55 minutes for the 30-mile journey would cost £3million.

But a new report says that for £4.5million that journey time could be cut to just 35 minutes.

Coun Birtwistle told a meeting of the council this week: "This town needs a railway line to Manchester.

"The city is fast expanding and we need to be able to connect with that.

"This seems like a cheap option which would be a huge help to our economy."

Coun David Heginbotham, who has campaigned for the re-instatement of the line for years, said: "This issue has been going on for the last eight years and the latest report shows the journey time of 55 minutes could be cut to 35 minutes.

"That would put Burnley back on the regional transport system of Lancashire."

Campaigners will now put pressure on Network Rail and the Government to give the go-ahead for the scheme and provide funding.

Former Manchester music mogul Anthony Wilson, who died earlier this year, and his partner Yvette Livesey included the reopening of the railway line as part of the Elevate programme.

The couple included the Todmorden curve on a list of major leisure and tourism projects which could be realistically delivered in the next few years.

Discussions on replacing Burnley's outdated Central and Manchester Road stations are ongoing with Lancashire County Council.