NEGLECTED land aro-und the River Darwen is to be given a new lease of life.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has secured money to clean up the river around Robin Bank Road, near Darwen town centre.

Approximately 50 years ago there was a gas works in Robin Bank Road and after the site closed, tests revealed the land was contaminated.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has carried out decontamination work but a further site investigation will be carried out to determine whether the land is still contaminated.

The Reclamation and Management of Derelict land (Remade) project, which is funding the clean-up, will allocate the exact sum of money for the project after the test results are known.

It is hoped the site will become a beauty spot for public use following a consultation with local residents.

Remade has been set up by Lancashire County Council in partnership with the North West Development Agency as part of the Agency's commitment to tackling the region's derelict land problem. Lancashire has more than 2,400 hectares of derelict, under-used or neglected brownfield land.

The project aims to reclaim, clean up and turn 25 percent of derelict land into quality public spaces for people to enjoy by 2011.

Coun Roy Davies, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Sudell ward, said: "It is a neglected site.

"The path along the river is used during the day but not in the evenings.

"It is good news but we have to make sure that funding is secure to maintain the area once the site is cleaned up."

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration said: "We have done a lot of decontamination work, and this is a check to make sure the land is clean.

"At the same time, we will be asking local people what they want to do with the site."

The Darwen Partnership Board will discuss the issue next week.

The site investigation will start in the spring and may take a few months.