A NEW housing development in East Lancashire is expected to generate jobs for skilled labourers.

Building work is set to start in January on 60 new homes on the site of the former Lower Antley reservoir, in Blackburn Road, Church.

Developer Doncaster-based Haslam Homes is on the lookout for local tradespeople to work on their site as they expand their North West operations.

The initial base for the new area, which will stretch from Blackpool to Chester and from Liverpool to Glossop, will be on the Accrington site. Tim Wray, new regional manager for the North West, said: "We have been building new homes in the Eastern side of Britain, stretching from Staffordshire and Leicestershire right up to Newcastle. We are delighted to have the opportunity to widen our base over to Lancashire, offering homes buyers top quality, value for money homes."

The planning application was passed by Hyndburn Council in July with the stipulation that the company contributed £13,440 to maintain a nearby playground.

The development will include a mixture of terraced, semi-detached and detached two and three-storey homes.