FUNDING for the revolution in East Lancashire's housing market has been secured for another three years --with as much as £100million coming to the area.

Government officials have confirmed they intend to continue supporting Elevate, East Lancashire's housing pathfinder ,when the first two-year package of funding runs out in 2006.

They have told bosses at Elevate that between £60million and £100million will be available between 2006 and 2008. Overall, Elevate is expected to spend 15 to 20 years renovating rundown communities in Burnley, Pendle, a small part of Rossendale, Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn.

Each of the five councils is being asked to submit bids for the next phase of work, which will be submitted to Elevate.

They will then mould a full package and submit it to the Government for approval by the summer.

The bid allocation will be the third highest on offer, with only Manchester and Liverpool getting more out of the nine pathfinder areas.

Next month marks the end of the first year of a fully-funded Elevate, with £22million expected to have been spent.

Over the next year, another £45.2million will be spent.

Blackburn with Darwen will get £14.6million, Burnley £12.2million, Hyndburn £7.1million, Pendle £9.5million and Rossendale £2.5million.