BURNLEY MP Peter Pike hailed champion superbiker Neil Hodgson and said it was good to see the town in the news for the right reasons.

Mr Pike, alluding to the negative publicity surrounding 2001's riots and the election of BNP councillors, spoke out after Neil clinched the World Superbike Championship yesterday in Assen, Holland.

He added: "It is a good thing for Burnley. It is always good to see someone from Burnley doing so well and to see Burnley getting some good publicity from good, positive things."

Mayor Councillor Lilian Clark said: "I think it is super! It is really good for the town because it really puts us on the map.

"It shows the outside world what a great place Burnley is."

Councillor Stuart Caddy, leader of Burnley Council, said Neil's win was a tremendous achievement and gave hope to young sports people in Burnley.

He said: "It's a proud day for Neil, his family and the people of Burnley.

"This follows on from the recent successes of Craig Heap and James Anderson and shows youngsters what can be achieved through hard work and dedication."

Blackburn's Carl Fogarty, who won the title four times, put aside any rivalry to declare he was pleased for Neil, despite his own superbike team, Foggy Petronas Racing, experiencing a difficult season.

He said: "I know what it is like to win a world title here. He will just feel relived at the moment as he has been under pressure all year.

"I don't think the fact that you are a world champion ever sinks in."