COMPANIES will ignore East Lancashire unless the future of the trans-Pennine rail route is secured, a council has warned.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is the latest group to support claims by other authorities that the loss of the service will damage the local economy as firms turn to areas with better rail links.

And the council has criticised the consultation process over plans to change the route, echoing criticism from local MPs.

Councillor Malcolm Doherty, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said there had been no consideration of the wider objectives.

He said: "Any proposals to change key rail routes should include local regeneration and transport plans as well as government targets to tackle pollution and car congestion. People who do not have a car will be excluded from the job and leisure opportunities that are currently open to them."

The TransPennine express route currently links the stations at Blackpool, Preston, Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley with Yorkshire, providing a key commuter and tourist route.

A new TransPennine Express franchise has been put out to tender but this excludes the East Lancashire Route.

The shadow Strategic Rail Authority, which offers franchises to companies seeking to run rail services, say the map which excludes the East Lancashire Route is not the final version and that bidders for the franchise will be expected to add other routes.

A spokesman said: "It is true there has been some criticism of the consultation process, but that is because has been misunderstood to a certain extent.

"The map which the bids are based on is merely indicative and is no way a final route. We are simply saying the areas shown on the map are within the route."

Critics of the plans fear that if the express service, which runs hourly through most of the day, is lost, they could be forced to rely on a local train service stopping at all stations and doubling the journey times.

Councillor Ashley Whalley, executive member for regeneration, said: "The people and businesses of East Lancashire deserve better than this."