FUNDING for five key regeneration projects in Pendle totalling £369,867 has been approved by Pendle Partnership.

The money will help to ensure that projects worth over £1.1m in Pendle go-ahead. The schemes include safer routes to school, a mobile information bus for young people, an environmental scheme giving work experience to disadvantaged young people, arts development and an ITHAAD translation scheme.

A spokesperson for the Pendle Partnership said: "These projects will help to deliver further improvements to Pendle. Disadvantaged young people will continue to get their first opportunity to work and receive training. The mobile bus will ensure that advice and guidance for young people will continue to be available on their doorstep.

"Safer routes to school will be created cutting the many needless road accidents. The Arts will become a driver for economic and social development and barriers between different ethnic groups will continue to be broken down through greater cultural awareness.

"These projects are a part of a much bigger regeneration project in Pendle involving over 100 separate projects. Pendle Partnership is committed to continue helping to further improve life for people in Pendle."

Pendle's arts scene will get a major boost after Pendle Partnership has approved funding for an arts development officer.

The safer routes scheme involves pupils at Holy Saviour's Primary, Bradley County Primary, St Philip's Primary and Lomeshaye Primary and will extend 20mph zones and traffic calming measures.

Pupils at Marsden Junior School, St John's Southworth Primary and Walton High School will also benefit from the scheme with measures such as organised walking to school groups, cycling to school, car sharing and improved road safety education.

The Mobile Youth Information Project has been awarded a further two years funding totalling £106,603 and it is expected that 3,616 young people will benefit from the service in the next two years.