EAST Lancashire has been placed at the bottom of the class in a county-wide league table of educational statistics.

The damning results reveal that more than a third of adults in Burnley, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Pendle have no qualifications whatsoever.

Blackburn has the highest figure in East Lancashire -- with 37 per cent of adults unqualified. In Burnley and Pendle, 36 per cent have no qualifications and in Hyndburn the figure is 35 per cent.

That compares with the Ribble Valley, the best performing region in Lancashire, where only 23 per cent of people are without qualifications.

The figures, which form part of the 2001 Census, were included in a recently released Lancashire County Council performance report.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "I shall be looking into this matter and checking the County Council's figures, which, if true, are deeply alarming. The government has launched a Learning and Skills Council across the whole country, but I believe it should pay special attention to Burnley and Pendle if a third of our population are so poorly qualified.

"Everybody knows we need good, well-paid jobs in East Lancashire and that means giving people the skills they need for such employment."

Lancashire has an average of 30 per cent of people aged 16 to 74 with no qualifications. The worst area of England and Wales is Sandwell in the West Midlands where more than three-quarters of adults have no qualifications.

But Burnley MP Peter Pike said he was not shocked by the figures. He added: "It doesn't come as a surprise to me. The reality is, and I have raised it time and time again in the House of Commons, that the number of people going on to higher education is lower than the norm.

"The other factor is that many people who do get qualifications do not come back to the area. They do not come back because we cannot offer them a range of quality jobs."

Mr Pike believes deep-rooted beliefs need to be changed before Burnley's performance in education league tables improves.

"Traditionally people believed in this area that their children should get out of school as soon as possible and bring home a pay packet.

"A higher percentage of people than normal expected and wanted that to happen. We have to change people's attitudes to education and do everything possible to attract that wider range of job opportunities in the area."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "I am obviously delighted about the figures for the Ribble Valley, but I do not want any academic divide in East Lancashire.

"While the Ribble Valley may attract better qualified people, it is vital for the prosperity of East Lancashire that as many people as possible have qualifications and skills."

The figures are said to be linked to social and economic conditions. In the Ribble Valley, where most people have some form of qualification, the average annual income stands at £25,400. That compares with Burnley where individuals can expect to earn an average of £17,500.

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone said: "Everybody knows that Lancashire's money is made in places like Burnley, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Pendle but spent in the Ribble Valley. I would agree it is an alarming statistic that has been there for some time."

Blackburn with Darwen -- 37.2% -- 37th of 376 authorities.

Burnley -- 36% -- 48th

Pendle -- 35.9% -- 50th

Hyndburn -- 35.5% -- 55th

Rossendale -- 31% -- 130th

Ribble Valley -- 23.2% -- 304th