EMPTY council houses have helped put Hyndburn towards the top of a national league of shame for housing departments.

And the number of vacant properties in the borough has increased since the statistics were gathered last year, according to housing chiefs.

Hyndburn was the 18th worst performing housing department out of 300 authorities nationwide, according to the government figures.

There were 109 empty houses out of a total 3,918 or 2.78 per cent.

The Department of Environment and Transport has published a table of local authorities ranked in order of the percentage of empty properties they have on their books.

Rona Courtney, housing manager for Hyndburn Council, said the tables were based on figures from last April but said there were now 137 vacant properties in the borough.

She said: "We make it a priority to let all newly-vacated properties promptly. Any long-term empty properties reflect factors which relate to that particular property.

"In areas like Huncoat we are working to try to bring long-term resources into the community to improve safety, security and wellbeing."

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