REGENERATION specialists who have helped to revitalise some of the poorest and most war-torn parts of the world are now targeting Burnley.

Joined Up Thinking Ltd, a regeneration and renewal company, specialises in 'post-crisis' development and has worked in Bosnia, the Ukraine and Romania after war and economic upheaval.

The company even helped the 2,000-strong population of Montserrat after a volcano erupted and destroyed two-thirds of the West Indian island in 1995.

Now it is to help Burnley with one of the largest regeneration contracts ever to be handed to a private UK company.

The company will carry out the two-year agreement to help regenerate five priority neighbourhoods.

Howard Swift, director of the company, said that although Burnley's problems are different to that of crisis-hit countries the skills they will use will be the same.

He said: "Post-crisis is probably an over-statement for Burnley, though Burnley hasn't been without its problems over the last 12 months.

"The kind of skills will be the same. We will be listening to people who have an influence in the communities so that everyone pulls in the right direction. The skills used to achieve that in Burnley are the same as elsewhere."

The five neighbourhoods earmarked for help are Belvedere, Brunshaw, Fulledge and Turf Moor; Burnley Lane and Duke Bar; Daneshouse and Stoneyholme; Rosegrove and Top O' The Town and the Albert Street area.

Community Alliance in Burnley and Padiham is behind the project which is called the 'Local Area Working Programme'. It will cost in the region of £900,000 to £1million of central government and European funding.

Two other companies, as well as Joined Up Thinking, have been chosen to deliver the plan.

In Joined Up Thinking's scheme each neighbourhood will have a dedicated worker who will aim to involve residents and groups to work more effectively in their community.

They hope to get community groups, such as residents associations, to say exactly how the want their community to be improved and the neighbourhood workers will help facilitate that.

Judy Yacoub, co-ordinator for the Community Alliance, said: "There is no doubt that this project will make a real difference to the people of Burnley."

As part of the project a new web site to allow local people to engage in on-line debate has been established. This site is www.burnleyalliance.org.uk.