HEALTH bosses dealing with the public response to the merger of the two East Lancashire health trusts, say the majority of public letters were in favour.

The NHS Executive North West, which is handling the public consultation process to merge the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust and the Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust, say the response was "generally positive".

A spokesman said: "The response has been generally positive and we have quite a lot through. All the responses are in now and we will be sending them on for a decision."

The responses will be sent to Health Minister Jacqui Smith for a decision, which is expected during the summer. The move, which will create an East Lancashire NHS trust, will see the two trusts merge on an administrative basis, running Blackburn's two hospitals and Burnley General. If the move gets the go-ahead, the merger could take place in April next year .