RESIDENTS in one of Hyndburn's most deprived wards were given a glimmer of hope for the future during a day trip to see how their area could be rejuvenated.

If funding is secured, an ambitious regeneration scheme for the Lower Antley area of Accrington -- the Phoenix Project -- could see dramatic changes including a state-of-the-art health centre and new housing, but residents have had mixed feelings about the plans.

In order to demonstrate how the new estate could look, almost 30 locals whose homes will be demolished if the scheme goes ahead, were taken to Higher Broughton, Salford, to see an estate housing association Space made earlier.

Joan Pilkington, chairman of the West Accrington Residents Association, said: "We hoped at first to visit the Eldonian Village in Liverpool as an example, but the one in Salford was designed by the same people who are involved with ours, so it seemed the best option.

"The Phoenix Project is looking more like a reality now as people saw what was a very badly-run down area that has been improved.

"There is still a health warning on this though and we are frightened of raising people's hopes too much because at the end of the day it can make things worse if they expect too much and it does not go ahead."

Currently, Lower Antley is one of the area's most deprived wards, with a quarter of the houses now derelict . Phoenix Project -- a programme involving Hyndburn First housing association Space -- could see the gradual clearance of rundown terrace houses between Newark Street and Leyland Street, south of Blackburn Road and north of the railway line.

Applications for funding for the project have been made to the SRB programme, the North West Development Agency, the Government and the council but until plans have been finalised the cost unkown.