RADICAL plans to tackle the problem of empty homes in Burnley are being drawn up by council bosses.

Under the proposed scheme, a housing association would buy empty properties and refurbish them, and the council would give the exteriors a face-lift.

The properties could then be sold off or used as social housing.

The scheme could be adopted across other areas in East Lancashire if it proves successful. Housing chiefs hope the scheme will ensure whole blocks of houses can be refurbished rather than leaving empty homes untouched while other occupied homes are done up.

Council leader Stuart Caddy said: "This is a very positive and pioneering proposal and shows that the council is working hard to develop the ideas that will improve all areas of our borough."

Residents in South West Burnley had recently voiced their anger after hundreds of thousands of pounds earmarked for improvements to houses in their area were switched to another ward.

South West Burnley is set to miss out this financial year on more than £300,000 after council bosses said the plans for improving properties would have to be reviewed.

The cash will now be spent in Rosehill and Burnley Wood, although council bosses have promised to pump cash into South West Burnley in 2004/5 and 2005/6 from the Elevate programme.

Burnley, along with other areas in East Lancashire, is currently bidding for a share of £500m to improve its communities as part of the Elevate scheme.

Resident Brian Barritt said: "We do not mind at all that money is going to other areas; what we object to is the way the council have handled the situation which has left us with nothing.

"Trinity has had no investment for 20 years and all we want is some facelifting of properties as a gesture of goodwill that the council are serious about doing something for us.

"Christmas is coming now and people are going to have to wait anxiously until the New Year to find out what is going to happen."

Trinity ward councillor Tony Lambert added: "People are very very angry and they have every right to be so. The council say they will spend twice as much next year and the year after from Elevate, but that is not money they have yet. Nothing is set in pillars of stone so who knows what might happen."

The council said there were too many empty homes and that many homes were due to be demolished anyway as part of the Elevate plans so face-lifting would be a waste of money.

A council spokesman said: "This is not about the area losing money, it is about prioritising available resources to make sure the council maximises as much spending of the SRB6 grant as possible in the current financial year."