AN Accrington teenager has been praised by a government minister for her work in bringing a new cinema to the town.

Emma Allardice campaigned for years, raising a petition and badgering councillors.

The 15-year-old witnessed the opening of the cinema in November, the final piece in the Viaduct complex, which boasts a 20-lane bowling alley and McDonald's drive-through.

Emma, currently in the first year of a two-year course in performing arts and childcare run by Accrington and Rossendale College, visited the cinema again yesterday to meet cabinet minister Ian McCartney on the day government funding was announced for the regeneration of housing and communities in Hyndburn.

Mr McCartney said: "You hear about kids doing things wrong, but not about kids doing things right. Emma came up with a brilliant idea and convinced the adults. We're going to make her regeneration minister!"

Buoyed on by her success Emma, of Spring Street, Accrington, is now looking to secure more facilities for Hyndburn's young people, such as an ice skating rink and junior clubs for youngsters in Spring Hill. "I don't think there has been as much vandalism since the cinema opened, and kids on street corners," she said.

Meanwhile, pensioner Edith Holden revisited her old house in Pearl Street, Accrington, one of around 200 to be demolished as part of Project Phoenix. The scheme will see West Accrington regenerated, with a community health centre, new rented housing for families and elderly residents, new homes for sale, a small business centre and a park off Blackburn Road created.

Mrs Holden, 75, moved to sheltered accommodation in Walmsley Court, off Bank Street, Church, in December, after 16 years in her own home. She said: "It was a very nice area, but now they'll all be demolished."

Mrs Holden welcomed the announcement of government money to bring the area back to life.