WORKERS at four leisure facilities to be axed by Rossendale Council have received redundancy notices from the authority.

More than 30 staff at Whitworth Pool, Bacup's Aged, Blind and Deaf Centre, Rawtenstall's Astoria Ballroom and Haslingden Public Hall have lost their jobs at the venues which were earmarked for closure as part of the council's corporate recovery plan.

Some staff at Rossendale Museum are also affected because of the proposals for winter closure.

A spokesman for the authority said 47 employees initially faced the axe but some have been redeployed to other positions.

Council leader Graham Pearson said: "We have done our best to help as many people as possible, but this is still a sad day.

"The council had to save a lot of money to finance our corporate recovery plan and the trade unions have been consulted at all stages."