COUNTY bosses have pledged to support Burnley’s dream of a direct rail link to Manchester.

But the man in charge of Lancashire’s transport has admitted he has no idea how much money County Hall can offer.

Burnley Council and regeneration campaigners say reinstating the Todmorden Curve - which would enable direct, 38-minute rail journeys between the town and Manchester - would cost around £4million and deliver a huge economic boost.

Earlier this week, Burnley MP Kitty Ussher met with Lancashire County Council chief executive Ged Fitzgerald in a bid to get more support from the authority for the scheme.

And afterwards, County Coun Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for sustainable development, said he is ready to put the initiative at the top of the county council’s rail agenda.

He said: “We have a priority list for our highways but we don’t have one for the railway links.

“However, it is something I have asked our officers to look at.

“We have got a few schemes, such as the Todmorden Curve, that we would like to promote and we recognise the importance of them.

“We have only got so much money to spend but I am keen that we spend it where we would get the best return.”

However, he admitted that no cash is currently available for the Curve, adding: “At the moment we are offering moral support but if anyone asked if we can put the money where our mouth is, it would become more problematic.”

Meanwhile, Miss Ussher described her conversation with Mr Fitzgerald as “useful”.

She added: “We need to encourage Lancashire County Council to exercise a clear leadership role as the transport authority.

“They have been supportive but they need to make that clear.”

Transport experts have predicted reinstating the Todmorden Curve will cost around £4million.

It is hoped that Northern Rail and Network Rail will help bankroll the scheme, along with Burnley Council, Lancashire County Council and the Northwest Development Agency.