A DARWEN "freedom" campaigner has called for local people to be given a greater say on how money is spent in the town.

Roy Davies hit out after a council-funded report revealed that more money was spent per head of population in Blackburn's wards than in Darwen.

Councillors have refuted the findings, saying that if the urban wards of Darwen are compared with Blackburn's urban wards, the average spend is very similar.

But Mr Davies, who has spear-headed a campaign for Darwen to be given more independence from Blackburn Town Hall, said it proved that the town needed more autonomy.

Mr Davies, of Olive Lane, said: "What we need now is for the council to let us have a bigger say in how money is spent.

"They talk about spending £1million in Darwen on regeneration - but then talk about £100million facelifts in Blackburn.

"We are being left behind and these new figures show that, in my opinion."

Mr Davies' campaign has included handing a 500-signature petition to Blackburn with Darwen Council asking for it to be granted independence. At the time, the council insisted Darwen got a fair share of council-funding.

According to the report though, £763 more is spent on people living in Blackburn than in Darwen - £5,407 compared to £4,644 - if the two affluent wards of North Turton, Tockholes and East Rural are included along with Darwen's five urban wards.

Donna Hall, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive director for resources, said: "The results of this exercise shows that this council, and our partners, focus resources on the people and areas in most need across the borough.

"When we mapped expenditure alongside the national index of deprivation there is a clear correlation.

"This focus is entirely in line with Government policy and the funding we receive, for example, for Neighbourhood Renewal.

"Blackburn wards represent 77 per cent of the borough's population and received 79.7 per cent of the spend in 2002/03.

"Darwen wards have 23 per cent of the population and 20.3 per cent of the spend. They are also, in the main, less deprived according to the national index of deprivation, which is good news for Darwen."

Darwen and Rossendale MP, Janet Anderson, said she had yet to see the figures. She added: "Until I have, it would not be right to make any comment."