GOVERNMENT minister Paul Boateng has pledged to carry on investing in Burnley's run-down housing.

As chief secretary to the Treasury, he has part responsibility for a massive revamp scheme in the town.

And yesterday he was in Burnley to look at the progress that has already been made in the Elevate Pathfinder Housing Renewal Project.

The East Lancashire-wide programme, which is also backed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, will eventually see thousands of homes demolished and replaced with modern, spacious housing.

During the visit, Burnley's prospective parliamentary candidate, Kitty Ussher, also pressed the minister to keep the cash coming.

After a private meeting at the Elevate head office in Colne, Mr Boateng spent time with Mrs Ussher looking at the demolition work in south west Burnley, around Cog Lane, Scotts Terrace and Fielden Street. Mr Boateng said: "Labour is committed to sorting out Burnley's housing once and for all. Work has now started and I'm here to make sure we're spending our money most effectively.

"I know that Labour's candidate to take over from Peter Pike in Burnley, Kitty Ussher, has said housing is one of her top priorities and I look forward to working with her in the years ahead to regenerate our communities."

Mrs Ussher said: "If I'm the MP, my mission will be to restore the pride to all of our communities, and we need new housing to do that. Labour is now investing in Burnley on a massive scale, in a way no government has done.

"I pressed Paul Boateng to make sure the money keeps coming, year after year, until we have regenerated all areas of our town and kick-started our housing market again.

"What is being done at the moment is only the beginning. But we need a Labour MP and a Labour government to see the job through."