LABOUR party chiefs in Burnley aim to get streetwise - by asking local people their views on issues ranging from education to crime.

Party workers will cover the town in the wide-ranging survey aimed at getting to know just what "the men and women in the streets" want and which issues rank highly with them.

The study, which will be carried out over many weeks, was launched by Burnley MP Peter Pike at Myrtle Bank Infant School yesterday.

Said the MP: "Listening to the opinions of people is important to Labour's programme of improving Britain both nationally and locally.

"The results of the survey will be used by the party in Burnley to help make policy decisions that meet the needs of Burnley people."

Labour agent Carole Galbraith added: "One issue that has been of concern is the relatively low turn out at local elections.

"Part of the survey seeks to establish why many people do not make the effort to vote and I hope we can use the results to make voting more important and easier."

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