THE Northwest Development Agency is calling for the restoration of East Lancashire's Assisted Area status to help support its manufacturing base.

The European Commission has turned down recent regional aid recommendations for parts of Burnley, Hyndburn and Rossendale.

At the agency's latest board meeting, member Kath Reade, supported by industrialist Dennis Mendoros, led the call for the agency to help restore Assisted Area status to affected parts of East Lancashire.

Mrs Reade said: "East Lancashire has been dealt two body blows in quick succession. The loss of Objective 2 European funding and now the loss of Assisted Area status is nonsensical in an area of obvious need.

"I want the Northwest Development Agency to use as much influence as possible to change this decision. We must be able to support our manufacturing base in East Lancashire."

The board agreed that the agency should pursue the matter with the East Lancashire Partnership and work to develop a clear, evidence-based case for reviewing this decision. It is expected that councillors, MPs and business contacts in East Lancashire will all support a campaign to press for a change of decision. Findings will be presented to the Secretary of State for the DTI, Stephen Byers, and the Minister responsible, Richard Caborn.

During a visit to Accrington last week, Local Government Minister Hilary Armstrong said the Government's revised map for grant support was necessary because the European Union wanted to concentrate aid on areas where industry was likely to be attracted.

Ms Armstrong said: "The European Community will not accept the map that we put in, which included places like Hyndburn. The European Commissioner has said this is about how we attract industry to the region, and to the places where industry is most likely to be concentrated."