More than 14,000 Blackburn with Darwen households have needed cash help from the government's Household Support Fund.

Public health boss Cllr Damian Talbot revealed the figure to the borough's executive board as it approved the rules for distributing the latest round of the emergency financial package.

The HSF provides help for fuel payments, food parcels, boiler servicing, home insulation and items such as fridges and cookers that may need replacing.

Introduced in October 2021, it aims to help hard-up households with the cost of living crisis.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced its extension from April 1 to September 31 in his March 6 Spring Statement to MPs, shortly after Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley wrote to him on the issue.

Cllr Talbot revealed the borough's allocation for the fifth round of the HSF was £1.6 million, and that since 2021,14,356 households had taken advantage of these grants.

He told Thursday's meeting: "This was announced very, very late. It's a big challenge we face getting it out.

"More than 14,000 households in the borough have taken advantage.

"I don't know whether that's a good thing that we were able to help or a bad thing so many people needed it.

"The cost of living crisis has not gone away."

The HSF is delivered by the council in partnership with voluntary, community and faith sector partner organisations.

People can apply if they live in Blackburn or Darwen even if they are in full or part-time work.

Applicants don’t have to be claiming benefits.