EAST Lancashire’s regeneration leaders have pulled out of the race to become the UK’s first ‘Capital of Culture’.

‘Pennine Lancashire’ was set to go head to head with dozens of other areas in a bid for the title.

Now they have scrapped the idea amid concerns over the cost of a bid, infrastructure and how people viewed the area.

But members of the Pennine Lancashire board, which includes councillors and town hall bosses, said they may try again in four years’ time after feedback from the Government.

Communications director Katie McCormick said: “The main issue was the geography and infra-structure of Pennine Lancashire.

“Our bid was designed to attract visitors from abroad but we decided now was not the time to go in.”

In September, a host of other UK places, including Chester, Bath and Oxford, announced that they were also vying to be named Capital of Culture in 2013.

And the competitive list prompted Pennine Lancashire chiefs to think again about bidding.

Mrs McCormick said: “People may not know where Pennine Lancashire is and we need to do more about that.

"Places like Oxford do not really need the Capital of Culture to bring people in.”

She also said rail links in East Lancashire would be improved by the time bidding for the 2017 Capital of Culture began in 2013.

Neighbouring Chorley also pulled out of the running for the title last month.