A ROW of burned-out terrace homes branded the ‘worst in East Lancashire’ is set to be demolished.

Hyndburn’s new council leader said the proposal to demolish 11 dangerously unstable homes in Spring Street, Rishton would finally salvage the area.

Many of the homes have no roof and all are boarded up. The street has also been branded the worst spot for arson after fire crews were called to the scene 33 times in just six months.

Though plans in the past were geared towards saving the historic homes, including an old mill manager’s cottage, councillors said the structures were now too unstable.

Council leader Miles Parkinson said: “This was just such a clear priority that we have made it one of our first orders of business.

“There is a shortage of regenration cash, but the £40,000 we are pledging towards the demolition costs will be money well spent.

“We do hope to recoup the money from the building’s owners, but even if that is not possible money will be saved simply by removing the problem.”

Rishton councillor Ken Moss who lives in nearby Bridge Street said: “I am chuffed to bits.

“It would have been great to save them, but by this point they are just too fire bombed and a line needs to be drawn under the problem.

“The previous administration had eight years to sort it out and we have done it in two weeks.”

However, opposition leader Peter Britcliffe said the demolition was the successful conclusion of a legal process which had began some time ago.

He said: “I welcome the progress being made here.

"These things do take a long time to come to fruition legally but the important thing is that they do eventually.”

The plans will be voted upon at the new council’s first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.