RESIDENTS in Stacksteads were celebrating today after council chiefs announced run-down homes and shops in the village are to be given a facelift.

The news comes after it was announced that £94.9million is to be spent throughout East Lancashire to carry out further work on out-dated homes crumbling through neglect thanks to the Government's Pathfinder housing regeneration scheme.

Of that £95m, council chiefs have announced that £4m will come Rossendale's way, with part of the cash earmarked for regeneration projects in Stacksteads.

The money will be spent along the run-down' opposite side of Newchurch Road to bring it up to the same standard as the homes which were facelifted during the first phase of the project.

And the news has been welcomed by councillors on both sides of the fence.

Newchurch Road resident and Labour councillor Christine Lamb, who represents the Stacksteads ward, said: "I am absolutely delighted by this news.

"It would have been a real shame if the buildings on the other side were left in the state that some are in at the moment. Bins are left littering the pathway and there's fly posting everywhere so this money will be a welcome boost to the area."

The move will see around 160 properties improved over two years with funding included from the Single Regeneration Budget to assist with the improvement of shops and commercial premises.

As part of the scheme properties will be re-roofed and environmental projects are likely to include waste management improvements, off street parking and open space improvements.

Investment will also be directed towards neighbourhood management and a small budget has been proposed to help the council deal with derelict sites and former industrial buildings with a view to improving the site and or re-marketing the land for re-use.

Deputy council leader Bill Challinor, who is a Conservative councillor, said: "We have spent time facelifting and renovating properties in Stacksteads on one side of the road and the other side has an awful mix of run-down shops covered in a graffiti, bins in the wrong place and properties that need to be brought up to scratch.

"It may seem as through all the money is being directed towards one area but the environmental schemes will benefit the whole of the community. Four million pounds is good and we are pleased because it's more than some other authority's get so I'm sure we will make the best of it."