THE authors of a new travel guide to Britain today faced an angry backlash after advising travellers not to linger in "depressing" East Lancashire.

The Lonely Planet Guide to Britain criticises Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington alongside some of the country's most famous resorts and tourist hotspots.

But Hyndburn's Mayor Ian Ormerod, who has lived in Accrington for most of his life, said the book had got East Lancashire all wrong.

Coun Ormerod, who is chairman of the Lancashire Hill Country Tourism Consortium, said: "This reminds me of when Douglas Adam's book The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy described earth as a fairly harmless place.

"This area has a lot to offer people which it has proved year after year by the number of people who come here.

"Most places have depressing areas and if you look for them you will find them.

"This is just people looking for negatives." Coun Ormerod added: "Only last year Accrington town centre was described as a vibrant Victorian gem while you need look no further than Burnley's Towneley Hall, which is a magnificent example of a historical building at its best.

"We also have the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington with the finest collection of Tiffany glass outside the USA and let's not forget that more than 25 per cent of Lancashire is classed as an area of outstanding natural beauty."

The guide, which also describes Blackpool as a tacky, brash British seaside resort, says East Lancashire has little to linger for.

It even criticises Buckingham Palace for its flock wallpaper and traditional white and gold decor. Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Malcolm Doherty said the guide's description of East Lancashire bore no resemblance to the reality of the towns.

"It doesn't sound like the Blackburn or East Lancashire I know at all.

"We do have our problems trying to clear the derelict buildings left from our industrial past but we are all working very hard to do that.

"And when you consider the local moors and countryside alongside places like Witton and Corporation Parks there's plenty to linger for as far as I'm concerned."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.