EAST Lancashire's new 'Mister Clean' says he aims to make quality improvements to land, water and air which will last into future generations.

Ian Handyside, is general manager of the Environmental Agency - charged with making the region a better place to live.

He accepts that in tackling the problems of the birthplace of the industrial revolution he has his hands full.

"The North West has had more than its fair share of pollution.

"But, considering its past and the fact that it is the home of a significant proportion of the country's chemical and heavy industry, it is perhaps inevitable that this would be the case.

"However, we are determined that pollution from today's activities is kept to an absolute minimum and that we start to tackle the legacies of the past.

"We will concentrate on making a positive and lasting difference to the environment which people will recognise in their local surroundings."

Nearly 1,100 staff will be employed in the new agency whose launch is being celebrated with an exhibition at Burnley's Towneley Museum this month.

The "Water for All" display in the natural history centre includes equipment and materials used in the management of fisheries, detecting pollution and water quality monitoring.

There are also practical demonstrations using computers, microscopes and identification of creatures found in local rivers.

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