AREAS left reeling from recent job losses were today dealt another hammer blow as it was revealed that they are to lose out on millions of pounds of Euro cash.

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have missed out altogether on Objective Two funding with only Blackburn with Darwen and parts of the Ribble Valley getting any cash at all.

The forthcoming expansion of the European Union into former Eastern Bloc countries is being partly blamed for the bad news.

And last minute lobbying from councils in West and Central Lancashire has also contributed to the knock back for Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and Hyndburn.

Areas which have lost Objective Two status will, however, receive transitional programme to cushion the blow.

Rossendale MP Janet Anderson said: "I am bitterly disappointed that Rossendale has not qualified for objective two status.

"We always knew that out case was borderline but we had hoped it would come down on the right side of the line.

"Everybody worked very hard on the bid. I shall continue to do everything I can to press Rossendale's case for further funding from whatever source."

Burnley MP Peter Pike said he was disappointed with the news and promised to look into the way the decision was made. Coun Stuart Caddy, the leader of Burnley Council said: "This will have a devastating effect on East Lancashire as a whole. Because we only have small pockets of deprivation we don't meet the criteria.

"We will be having a meeting of European MPs when we will be lobbying for this to continue."

Burnley Council has had Objective Two status since 1989 with £20million of cash having been secured for the town. Schemes which have benefited include the redevelopment of the former Padiham Power Station, Network 65, work on Burnley town centre and community economic development in South West Burnley, Burnley Wood and Daneshouse.

Janet Bradbury, Pendle Council's development director said: "We're obviously concerned because the reports are that Pendle has missed out.

"If that is true this is a devastating blow to the area. It means we will miss out on a huge amount of European funding. I couldn't say exactly how much that would be but it is a substantial amount."

Mrs Bradbury said last week's announcement by Nelson-based Coloroll that it is closing its factory, putting 300 jobs at risk, was exactly the reason Pendle needed Objective Two status.

Coun Malcolm Doherty, chairman of the East Lancashire Partnership of Councils said: "We are clearly disappointed that East Lancashire has lost coverage.

"However the position is better than a year ago when it was felt none of East Lancashire would be eligible.

"The East Lancashire Partnership will have to look at how the new and transitional programmes can be harmonised to benefit East Lancashire as a whole."

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