A minister defended the multi-million pound regeneration of the housing mar-ket in East Lancs.

Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright visited the area yesterday and insisted that the government would continue with its "housing market renewal" schemes, set up in 2003, despite the controversy they have created in some areas.

The policy, run in East Lancashire by Elevate, sees run-down areas demolished and refurbished in a bid to boost the housing market.

It has faced some fierce criticism in some quarters, with opponents branding it a waste of money and claiming homes were needlessly being flattened.

Last month it was revealed that just 16 houses had been built in East Lancashire under the scheme, and more than 1,178 demolished.

But Elevate bosses said that thousands more have been refurbished.

Mr Wright, the MP for Hartlepool, spoke at the Elevate-run Neighburhood Management Office in Accrington.

He said: "It has been controversial, and we have had a job to do in terms of convincing people not to think of it in terms of knocking down lots of houses.

"There is far more refurbishment than dem-olition.

"We are still committed to this. We have announced £1 billion of new funding, which is not to be sniffed at and shows our commitment.

"We appreciate the point that more work still needs to be done, it's a long-term programme.

"We are trying to transform areas that have suffered for a generation."

Mr Wright claimed East Lancashire would be "neglected" by the Conservatives if Labour lost power at the next general election.

He was joined by Elevate chief executive Max Steinberg and Hyndburn MP Greg Pope on a tour of Burnley and Pendle before meeting residents in Accrington.

The Minister will have a large say in the future of the scheme when the next round of funding is allocated between Britain's nine housing market renewal areas.

He added: "I can read business plans.

"But I am really very keen to make sure I have an idea what it's like on the ground.

"From speaking to people in this area, there have been challenges.

"But the resilience is very very strong. It's a fantastic place to live."