A HIGH-powered delegation from Burnley and Pendle is set to swoop on Euro-bosses in Brussels with a "give us our cash back" demand.

The two boroughs have lost Objective 2 - the status which triggers millions of pounds-worth of economic regeneration aid for deprived districts - in the new map of areas targeted to benefit.

Now Pendle is spearheading the latest bid to put the area back on the map by arguing its case face-to-face with EU decision-makers in Brussels.

Council Labour leader Azhar Ali, said the delegation hoped to go out within a fortnight and could include councillors from all political groups, council officers, the area's two MPs and local and North West Regional Development leaders.

"Loss of Objective 2 status is a major setback and we are going to the heart of the decision-making body in the hope of influencing the final decision. We are asking Burnley to join with us in this initiative," he added.

Meanwhile, Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said he was lobbying environment minister Hilary Armstrong and industry secretary Steve Byers to back Pendle's case to have two of its most deprived wards, Whitefield and Bradley, included in Objective 2.

The European Commission is expected next month to form a view on just which areas would benefit.

Meanwhile, former Burnley council leader Kath Reade, now a member of the powerful North West Development Agency, said she supported strong representations on such a vital issue and would be happy to take part in a delegation if invited.

She said:"We were in a very similar situation in 1993 and I was in a delegation which went to Europe and put forward our case very clearly and this resulted in our keeping the status, from which we have really benefited."

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