CLAIMS that residents are missing out on home improvement grants while houses which have already benefited lie empty are to be investigated.

Hyndburn Council has set up a working party after claims from a Labour councillor that up to 50 private homes in the borough are vacant after being spruced up with council grants.

The houses are either owned by people who have moved on or by landlords who have yet to rent them out.

The housing regeneration committee received a petition from residents in Higher Antley Street, Accrington who want grants to improve their homes.

No special priority was offered to the residents, with council officers saying the houses were 'average' for the area, which is part of the Scaitcliffe Renewal Area.

But Coun Jean Battle (PICTURED), who represents Barnfield ward, said: "It is disgraceful that we have so many residents living in homes which need repairing when houses which have received grants are lying empty.

"These houses have been spruced up and no one lives in them. The reason they aren't occupied is because the housing department doesn't have time to check that houses which have been improved are occupied.

"That is because they don't have enough staff because of Tory spending controls. It is appalling and the residents are suffering."

Councillors have now decided to form a working party which will address the issue and see if improvements can be made.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "The Labour group are taking people's concerns and making political issues out of them. The housing department has as many staff as it always has and this issue is being looked at."