A GRIM picture of life in Lancashire is painted today in a report showing many people suffering from poverty, crime and unemployment.

But while it cannot be denied that such influences do blight the lives of many families, one wonders whether the findings are being laid on somewhat thick.

For the report comes from the Lancashire Environment Forum, a body blessed by the Labour-run county council - which might have more than a little political interest just now in highlighting what it says are disturbing, downward trends in the quality of life.

There is, after all, a general election campaign on.

And by lobbing into the fray findings such as a quarter of East Lancashire children living in poverty, the earnings gap between rich and poor widening over the last 20 years and that violent crime is the increase, is not this report stealthily offering another unwritten conclusion. Namely: Blame the Tory government.

But while it may be useful to identify "serious areas of concern" so that they might be addressed by remedial action, it does Lancashire no good to run itself down as a crime and poverty-plagued place - when the real, overall picture of life in the county is far different.

The fact is that, alongside these "serious areas of concern," there are many people in Lancashire with jobs, many vibrant companies providing work and decent pay and many families without deprivation.

So why paint such a black picture?

Is there not an artful design to it all?

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