PEOPLE from across East Lancashire have taken the first step towards saving their ailing rural railway line.

Public meetings were organised by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACRP) at Colne Municipal Hall and Oswaldtwistle Mills yesterday to gather ideas on how the Blackpool South to Colne service can attract more customers.

The move follows a Government shake up of rail services that threatens to axe 56 under-used routes including the local line.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has launched a review of rural rail services and unless more people travel to Brierfield, Nelson and Colne, the service could be terminated at Blackburn.

But train company bosses, rail user groups, local councillors and members of the public have teamed together to get the ball rolling in creating a 'community rail partnership' to boost the line.

The project is being backed by Lancashire County Council and the East Lancashire Partnership.

ACRP director Dr Paul Salveson told both meetings that similar schemes in other parts of the country have been hugely successful.