THREE East Lancashire boroughs have won a lottery cash windfall.

Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle are among 51 areas to be offered a share of £169 million of extra money from Britain's favourite flutter.

Local groups are to be asked to bid for a share of the special cash pot controlled by the Lottery's Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund. They have been chosen as areas suffering from deprivation which have not got their proper proportion of lottery grants.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell last night announced the "fair share" scheme which offers the possibility of an extra £3million for each of the boroughs.

Mrs Jowell said: "The lottery is an integral part of communities right across the country, but it has not served some as well as it might. The 'fair share' scheme will begin to address that imbalance and I hope that the towns and areas that have been selected will make good and imaginative use of the cash they will receive. Many of these places buy a large number of lottery tickets. I am very pleased that they will now be able to enjoy the investment that the lottery makes."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "This has to be good news. People in Hyndburn and East Lancashire buy many times the national average of lottery tickets but have not received the benefit in grants.

"Now, hopefully, money from the lottery will come into the area."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "I am delighted. Three million pounds could do a lot for Pendle.

Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "This is excellent news.

"We appear to have lost out in the past but hopefully that will be put right."