BURNLEY and Blackburn have both been included in a new government table of England's most deprived areas.

The Indices of Deprivation 2004 is designed to help a drive to help form the policies and deliver the funding needed to improve the quality of life in poor areas.

Small areas in both East Lancashire towns were included in a table of the bottom 50 districts.

The areas were not identified and were said to be smaller than council wards with populations of between 1,000 and 3,000 people.

An average of "score" given to the areas placed Blackburn with Darwen at number 20 on the list and Burnley 42.

Regeneration minister Jeff Rooker said: "The increased detail provided by this information offers a great insight into the geographic pattern of deprivation in England as never before.

"From the government and local authorities to practitioners at grass roots level, the new indices will help focus our efforts to tackle disadvantage and create sustainable communities."

But some East Lancashire areas not on the list feared they could miss out on vital government funding in the future.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said he was still trying to make sense of the new index but said the omission of Hyndburn was a blow for the town.

He said: "The information we have coming through is rather piecemeal. At this stage we are shocked that Hyndburn seems to have been left out.

"We are aware there are pockets of great deprivation within the borough and if we were to lose that status it would affect funding coming into the town."