BUSINESS is booming in Blackburn, despite high crime levels in the town centre.

Traders in Burnley are also doing well, according to a report on town centre trading in Lancashire.

But towns such as Nelson, Rawtenstall and Bacup are faring less well, says the report to tomorrow's meeting of Lancashire County Council planning, industrial development and tourism committee.

Retail trade indicators including rent and sales levels and shopper catchment area are monitored in 30 centres across the county.

Blackburn is highlighted as one of Lancashire's four most viable trading centres, alongside Preston, Blackpool and Lancaster.

But Blackburn's town centre crime level forms more than eight per cent of the borough's total, making it one of the four most crime-hit centres.

The report adds Bacup and Rawtenstall are "at the other end of the spectrum."

It also lists Haslingden and Darwen among towns where traders have the highest levels of business confidence.

But Nelson is one of the centres with lower confidence and has not fared well over the last decade.

In general, a quarter of all traders in the county expect their businesses will expand over the next few years.

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