A GOVERNMENT minister saw for herself the work being done to try and transform a problem estate in Blackburn when she visited the town.

Angela Eagle, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, saw houses with boarded-up windows, loose slates and masonry in Maryport Close on the Roman Road Estate.

She was also told of Blackburn with Darwen Council's long-term plan to revitalise the area and the positive work being done on the estate by various agencies, including regeneration organisation Groundwork.

The MP met members of the estate's Youth Works project who explained how crime involving young people in the area had been cut by 35 per cent. Youth Works project spokesman Catherine Wright said: "She met a lot of local volunteers and was very positive and had a good understanding of the issues that surround the work we are doing in the estate."

Council spokesman Bill Haworth said the council was aware of the boarded-up homes in Maryport Close.

He added: "There are still a lot of challenges to be faced on the Roman Road estate and Maryport Close is one of them."

Before her visit to the estate, Mrs Eagle toured the Chapman Industries' New Waterside Mill, Eccleshill, Darwen, which has worked with Groundwork's environmental management services team to make its business more environmentally friendly.

Groundwork works with schools, community groups and businesses on projects to regenerate Blackburn and Darwen.

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