A GOVERNMENT minister was visiting two of East Lancashire's most rundown areas today.

Phil Hope, a parliamentary under secretary with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was to tour neighbourhoods in Blackburn and Burnley that have been included in the Elevate regeneration project.

He was to visit Bank Top and Burnley Wood. The areas are two of five in East Lancashire that have been told they can bid for a share of £500 million. Pendle, Hyndburn and Rossendale are also vying for a share.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced last year that the money was to be used to transform areas where the standard of housing had dipped to an unacceptable level.

Residents in Burnley and Blackburn have already been asked about how they would like their share of the money spent.

The five East Lancashire councils bidding for cash have already been given £6.66 million each to kick start the programme.

After meeting councillors and officers at Burnley Town Hall Mr Hope was to be given a tour of Burnley Wood, after which he was due to arrive in Blackburn to be shown around the Bank Top and Griffin areas.

Six areas of Blackburn have been targeted, with three getting priority. They are Blackburn Inner North West, which includes Bank Top, Wensley Fold, Mill Hill, Griffin and Corporation Park, Blackburn Inner South East which includes Whitebirk, Intack, Audley, Queens Park and Infirmary, and Central Darwen which includes Sudell, Marsh House, Sunnyhurst and Earcroft.