PARISH and town councils in Pendle were given a financial boost when the borough council's executive committee agreed to allocate money to every bid submitted.

The councils submitted a total bid of £18, 759 for capital grants but the financial manager Ralph Latham recommended that the allocation should be no more than £10,000. However, members decided that the council should provide the whole amount.

Bids included £1,770 for disabled access to Barley Village Hall, £4,000 towards the Wheelie Challenge at Victory Park and £1,500 to Barrowford Parish Council for resurfacing the footpath between Pendle Street and Wheatley Springs, planting and landscaping land at Church Street and landscaping and planting at Gisburn Road and Bankhouse Mews.

There was also £800 for a jubilee seat in Mill Lane, Earby, £2,840 to Goldshaw Booth Parish Council for the renovation of its playground, £2,000 for heating at Roughlee Village Centre £1,199 to replace mowing machines stolen from Salterforth Parish Council and £3,000 for benches on the recreation ground in Trawden.

Councillor Alan Davies said all the bids should be fully funded as a reward for the hard work the parish and town councils do.