A LOT of attention has been focused in the last few years on Blackburn's centre and making it as attractive as possible to shoppers.

But many of the town's problems stem from the unattractive, rundown streets bordering the central area - scruffy, down-at-heel sites and roads which quickly get clogged by standing traffic at busy times.

They serve to confirm the view of too many that East Lancashire towns lack glamour and vitality.

Approach routes are vital in creating good first impressions.

These gateways need to be bright and modern because people will not join nose-to-tail queues through tatty areas when competing shopping centres like Bolton, Preston and even the Trafford Centre, have swift, attractive routes into their hearts.

If it is to have real impact the £13million in regeneration cash - and the investment totalling £70million that it will hopefully trigger - must be used wisely and imaginatively on practical schemes which will attract jobs and make the town centre a truly attractive place to work and shop.

It must not be wasted on white elephant projects or streets of boring industrial units which will soon look as tatty as the mess they are replacing.

The package provides a chance for Blackburn to step up a division in the league of town centres. It must be used wisely.