BLACKBURN'S former council leader has been deployed on a mission Down Under - to sell Blackburn to the Aussies.

Sir Bill Taylor is aiming to show Australians how to improve their businesses after innovative partnerships created in Blackburn were hailed a perfect model of success.

Sir Bill was joined at the two-day lecture for bosses by Terry Boynes of Capita, the private consultancy company brought in to run services for Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Conference organisers flew the pair over to share their experiences at the annual Business Process Outsourcing event at a plush hotel in Melbourne.

More than 100 Australian bosses forked out 2,595 Australian dollars (£1,070) for a ticket to hear Sir Bill and Mr Boynes promote Blackburn's business strategy.

Capita was brought in to manage elements of the council's financial administration, housing benefit, tax collection, architects, property and road road management in 2001.

The relationship has seen services improve and some of the poorest areas of the town regenerated.

Sir Bill said: "Australasia is a vast area for 21st Century opportunities. Emerging nations there are seeking modern solutions to modern issues.

"In Australia they haven't really considered this system. There's not the same dynamic relationship between the council and local government. They were very interested in the effect the partnership had in Blackburn."

A Capita spokesman said: "The Council has been quite innovative in its private-public partnerships."