A STUDY into the feasibility of reopening the old Colne to Skipton railway line, which closed a generation ago may be paid for by the Government.

The revelation was made to Pendle MP Gordon Prentice by transport minister John Speller.

Mr Prentice tackled Mr Speller after speaking to a packed public meeting at the Municipal Hall in Colne earlier this month where some people called for the line to be reopened.

The East Lancashire line runs from Preston through Accrington, Blackburn and Burnley and now ends at Colne from where, originally, it went over the Pennines to Skipton.

Labour back bencher Mr Prentice asked Mr Speller if he would ask the Strategic Rail Authority, now chaired by Blackburn-born Richard Bowker, to commission a study on the feasibility and benefits of reopening the route.

Mr Speller said: "The SRA has no current plans to consider the possibility of reopening this line.

"The relevant local authority could take forward such a study if they saw benefit in doing so.

"If funding for such a study were required, it might be available under the SRA's rail passenger partnership scheme, which has been extended to include the possibility of funding feasibility work."

Mr Prentice said: "Opinion is divided in Pendle. And all the local authorities want a new road to run along the track bed, but I think its time for some lateral thinking on the issue."