CONSERVATION Group English Heritage is set to award almost £350,000 in regeneration grants to two East Lancashire towns.

A Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes grant for £60,000 has been awarded to Barnoldswick in order to renovate historical buildings in the centre as part of the tourism strategy, while £282,000, will go to Hyndburn Council to regenerate an historically important area next to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

The grants are part of a £9million national package to transform 53 decaying areas where the economic base has declined.

They are match-funded by local authorities and concentrate on bringing declining areas back to life by encouraging investment and tourism.