EVEN if the inevitable politicking that has ensued suggests that a pinch of salt may be needed, investigation is nevertheless needed into the claims that houses in East Lancashire that have been done up with improvement grants are lying empty while owners of homes in need of repair are missing out.

As many as 50 houses in Hyndburn are still vacant after being improved, according to Labour councillor Jean Battle, while residents in one area of Accrington have been driven to petitioning action because they are still waiting for grants for their run-down homes.

She blames spending curbs by the ruling Tories. But, whatever the reason, the basic complaint seems to hold water since the council's response is to set up a working party to examine the situation.

And it would seem a misuse of public money if dozens of houses are being done up with grant aid and left empty when grant-seeking home-owners are, in effect, having to gaze enviously at them while continuing to live in run-down properties themselves.

That's not how the system is meant to operate, surely. And if it is going wrong in Hyndburn, to whatever extent, let the council urgently find out why.

Perhaps stricter conditions are needed regarding the payment of the grant cash -- with a sufficiently-crucial slice of it being withheld until occupancy of the improved property is established -- so that there is much less incentive for good homes to lie empty while all around unfit ones abound.