A TROUBLED part of Rishton could get a dramatic facelift thanks to regeneration plans.

The Spring Street area has been described by a leading Hyndburn councillor as a problem area and could soon be the target of a cash injection.

Coun Ann Scaife, Rishton representative and cabinet member for the environment on Hyndburn Council, is hoping to secure funding.

Coun Scaife is vice chairman of the Rishton Area Council, and at a meeting last week recommended that funding be given to the scheme.

She said: "Spring Street is a problem area of Rishton. It has got to be looked at. Somebody has got to step up and realise that it isn't good waiting until it implodes.

"Somebody even asked me the other day: 'Can you get the name changed so people won't know where it is?' If you ask about house prices they are about £10,000 less than other properties in Rishton."

It is hoped funding for the project can be drawn from the area council's New Capital Projects Fund, worth £5,000 in total.

Police have welcomed the news, and said Spring Street is a problem area for crime.

PC Mark Skellorn, community beat manager for Rishton, confirmed there have been problems in Spring Street with juvenile nuisance and drugs offences.

He said: "Any regeneration that can go on there is going to help because it does need it. The people need something to get them going again."

Because only two councillors were present at the meeting, the decision on funding can now be taken under 'emergency powers' by the chair and vice-chair of the area council, in consultation with the council's managing director, or can be left to the next meeting of the area council.