FOR years and years many people in Darwen feel they have been losing out.

First the town ceased to have its own MP when it became part of the larger Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

This slight (and that's how many Darwen people viewed it) was recognised when the new unitary authority was born and named Blackburn WITH Darwen Council rather than using the word 'and' which was said to relegate the town to an afterthought.

But feelings that the town has been shortchanged when council cash is spent have not gone away - and today's council audit figures show why. They are actually based on fact.

During 2002-3 Blackburn people had an average of £5,407 of public money spent on them while the figure for Darwen folk was £4,644. Darwen wards had 23% of the borough's population but only 20.3% of the spend.

Council leader Coun Bill Taylor says the study was aimed at disproving a "common myth" that money was constantly targeted at minority groups.

With hundreds of former Crown workers unemployed Darreners are an (albeit large) 'minority group" that is truly in need of help.

The council leader talks about Blackburn having many deprived areas - very true - and they need to be properly supported.

But what criteria are being used to measure deprivation? Darwen has had a tough time in recent years and the latest survey can only fuel Darreners' fears that they are constantly coming second.

The council needs to act now to address this situation monetarily and produce a far more dynamic response to the problems of Darwen.