A KEY train service through East Lancashire has been branded "unacceptable."

The 5.12pm Northern Rail service from Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria was cancelled twice and more than five minutes late on 13 occasions in a four-week period.

The train calls at East Lancashire stations Whalley, Langho, Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, Blackburn, Darwen and Entwistle.

Figures presented to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority showed the company's performance was improving across the region, with fewer than one in 10 trains failing to run within five minutes of their scheduled time.

However, almost one in five of all trains on the route between Clitheroe and Manchester Victoria suffered delays during the latest recording period, August 19 to September 15.

In a report to the authority's transport network committee, interim service delivery director Michael Renshaw said: "Performance has improved by more than one per cent since the last period, but remains at an unacceptable level.

"The key cause of delay to these services was continuing temporary speed restrictions between Blackburn and Clitheroe.

"The speed restrictions have arisen because of the poor condition of track in some areas.

"The situation is being viewed very seriously by the Department for Transport and the rail industry."

Network Rail, which looks after the UK's track and signalling, has already removed some speed restrictions and is expected to remove temporary limits from two further stretches of track before the end of the month.