BLACKBURN and Darwen are among the 50 most deprived areas in England according to a report.

But the area has improved its ranking from 31st worst in the country in 1992 to 41st worst in the latest survey.

The report was commissioned by the Government and undertaken by the Centre for Urban Policy Studies at the University of Manchester.

Other areas of East Lancashire also appear in the top 100 but fair better than Blackburn and Darwen.

Burnley is ranked 65th, Hyndburn 76th and Pendle 99th. Neighbouring areas also appear in the deprivation league table with Bolton placed 47th and Preston 68th.

Calculations to set up the league table were based on criteria such as the number of overcrowded houses, the number of people on income support and the amount of people who are long-term unemployed.

Blackburn and Darwen scored particularly badly in the amount of derelict land the survey found in the borough and the area's performance was also affected by a higher than average number of deaths in the area.

The most deprived area of Blackburn was found to be Brookhouse with Green Bank second, Queen's Park third and Bank Top fourth.

The two least deprived areas of the borough were judged to be North Turton and the Pleasington and Feniscowles area.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council plans to use the information when it is bidding for Government or European funding.

The council has also called for the information to be re-compiled so that it can be analysed on the basis of local government wards since the borough gained unitary status and became independent of Lancashire County Council.

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