AN INTER-community carnival is set to be held in Burnley this summer after the Rank Foundation charity gave a £90,000 grant to police.

The money will support various projects in the town over the next three years aimed at improving community cohesion.

As well as the planned carnival, which is waiting approval from Burnley Council, the money will pay for a "Bridge the Gap" project aimed at breaking down barriers between young and old in different communities.

Cash will also go into a community chest pot where police community beat managers and community support officers will be able to target community groups in need of cash, such as sports projects. The first instalment of the cash, £35,000, was handed to police by the Rank Foundations director of grants David Sanderson, on Friday.

The charity agreed to fund the projects after visiting Burnley and being shown some of the most deprived areas.

Inspector Jeff Brown, part of Burnley Police's community safety team, said: "We were very pleased that the Rank Foundation expressed an interest in what was happening in Burnley and were privileged to have the chairman come to the town for a tour around. We were delighted to receive such a generous sum of money."