FIFTY council members and directors responsible for overseeing post-16 education in Lancashire have been praised for helping boost numeracy and literacy skills.

And a scheme in Blackburn with Darwen to help boost the skills levels of hundreds of taxi drivers has been heralded as an example of pioneering work.

Council members and directors of the five North West Learning and Skills Councils (LSC) were praised by Ivan Lewis MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills and Vocational Education at a conference in the Lake District.

The chair of the regional board, Anthony Goldstone, and John Korzeniewski, the LSCs regional director for the North West also addressed the seminar.

Mr Goldstone said: "In the North West we are aiming to make a real difference to people's lifestyle and employment opportunities."