WORK has started to demolish empty shops on a Bacup estate.

The neglected stores on Hawthorn Road have been a cause for concern among Pennine Road estate residents for some time and have been targeted by vandals.

But under a scheme to revitalise the area's housing market, Rossendale Borough Council picked the area as the first to benefit from millions of pounds from the Government.

Council leader Peter Steen said: "This is another good example of the investment that the council has levered into Bacup through the Elevate programme and demonstrates the council's commitment to bringing about real improvements to people's lives in the area."

Elevate is a company which oversees the 'housing market renewal' project in East Lancashire and has more than £100million to spend in the area over the next two years.

The scheme will take 15 years to complete and the council has recently started asking residents how they want Bacup, Stacksteads and Britannia to be developed. Consultants Eaves Brook have been brought in to create a 'masterplan' for future improvements.

Among those who gathered to watch the Hawthorn Road shops being knocked down was Coun Judith Driver.

She said: "This is good news for the residents of Pennine Road estate and will bring about a much-needed improvement to the area."