THOUSANDS of pounds will be spent to improve disabled people's access to the Pendle countryside.

Seven public rights of way in Pendle have been earmarked for improvements after a report revealed there were very few paths within the borough accessible to disabled people.

The paths affected will include Laneshaw Bridge to Wycoller Country Park, Earby to Sough Park and Lower Clough Mill to Victoria Park, Barrowford.

The paths will have signs for visually impaired people and audio descriptions at the start and end of the walks using £6,000 of funding from the West Craven Committee.

The Countryside Access Strategy report also recommends that Pendle Council, responsible for 354 miles of public footpath and 25 miles of bridleway, should seize opportunities to improve access along the paths.

This includes replacing broken stiles with accessible gates and choosing gates rather than stiles when considering applications to divert public rights of way, adds the report.

The first path with signs for the visually impaired and audio descriptions detailing the history of the area will be launched next month.

Coun David Whipp, who approved the report at the last full council meeting, said: "The request to include provision for the development of routes for visually impaired people will next month receive a boost on the launch of Pendle's first trail that has been designed for visually impaired people.

"There will be specially designed boards that visually impaired people can sense.

"There will also be audio descriptions for people passing through with the history of the area.

"This is a first for Pendle with more to follow."