A SURVEY of the fountain in the centre of Bacup has revealed it will not be as expensive as first thought to repair.

The fountain, in the centre of the roundabout which connects, Market Street, Rochdale Road, Todmorden Road and Burnley Road, and has not worked for many years.

Its restoration is a project which is being paid for by the £4.75million of Government single regeneration budget money which was awarded to Bacup and Stacksteads last year.

Secretary of the Bacup Consortium, the community arm of the funding team which also has representatives on the SRB board, Stuart Hammond said: "The fountain has now been surveyed and it has come out that it will be a lot less expensive than we first thought."

The consortium held its annual meeting at the weekend when an update on project so far was announced.

A planned heritage trail publication, detailing historical parts of Bacup which is being organised with students from Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, should be out next Easter.

There was also an update on the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail which explained about five newly-graduated artists who have been commissioned to produce temporary works in the town and a further permanent structure being built by Stephen Charnock.

Chairman Tricia Brindle was re-elected, Jean Pinder was elected vice-chairman and Nick Sands was elected treasurer.