SEWERS in East Lancashire are in line for improvements worth £5.7million to prevent homes being flooded by sewage during heavy rain.

The cash is part of a £52million package put together by United Utilities to tackle sewer flooding across the north west and approved by Ofwat, the water regulator.

More than £2million will be spent in Blackburn with Darwen, while Hyndburn is to receive £1.3million of work and Chorley £1million. A further £700,000 will be spent in the Ribble Valley, £400,000 in Burnley and £200,000 in Pendle.

The works will come as a relief to many residents affected by last year's flash floods, particularly in Oswaldtwistle where dozens of householders in Thwaites Road and Wordsworth Close saw sewage in their homes.

Thwaites Road resident May Dickinson, whose home has been flooded three times in as many years, gave the funding boost a cautious welcome.

She said: "It's nice to know that something's finally happening but I hope it's done properly and actually works. The flooding round here has been terrible."

The cash injection will be used to build extra capacity into sewers, add pumping stations to move sewage through the system faster and separate rainwater and sewage flows, which bosses hope will prevent further disasters.

United Utilities customer services director Gary Dixon said: "For our customers who have had more than one unpleasant experience of sewage flooding in their home, this investment is good news.

"We recognise how horrible sewer flooding can be and how important it is to our customers that we tackle it - something we remain committed to addressing in their behalf."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration, Councillor Andy Kay, said: "We welcome the news that United Utilities is to fund a major improvement programme for the local sewer network to tackle the serious problem of sewer flooding which blights many areas.

"This is a major programme and in the light of this we have been in discussion with the contractors to try and ensure as minimal disruption as possible."

Hyndburn council leader Councillor Peter Briggs said: "This is wonderful news. Having experienced first-hand the problems and despair that flooding causes I welcome the monies which will be used to solve the problems caused by flooding and to end the misery caused by it."

Maurice Terry, chairman of consumer association Watervoice North West, said: "We are pleased to see an acceleration of work targeting sewer flooding. We believe this is a key priority for customers in our region and welcome United Utilities' positive action."