PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice was delighted to hear the news that the Department of Health is to invest £20 million to modernise hearing aid services this year.

The cash means that in addition to the 20 sites already involved in the project at least a further 30 sites will be equipped to fit digital hearing aids by the end of the year and a further 15 during 2003/4.

He said: "I have had a lot of correspondence from people in Pendle who wanted to see the introduction of digital hearing aids by the NHS.

"It was great news therefore to have this announcement from the government.

"It means that almost a third of patients will be able to benefit from this cutting edge technology."