A WORLD-famous education lecturer has given his backing to East Lancashire's Building Schools For The Future (BSF) projects.

But he warned: "They will only be a success if everyone gets behind them."

Accrington-born and educated Professor Andy Hargreaves is a renowned international lecturer and writer based at Boston College, USA.

The former pupil of Accrington's Spring Hill Primary School has written more than 25 books and researches and gives advice on school leadership and changes to education.

And he urged East Lancashire's communities to unite behind the revolution in the region as part of the government's BSF scheme to replace old schools with new state-of the art buildings.

Blackburn with Darwen Council was last month given government approval for a £150million masterplan which will refurbish existing schools and create three new super-schools in the borough as early as 2011.Four schools will close as part of the plan and faith schools will be urged to broaden their intakes to tackle segregation and social equality and create multi-faith schools.

In Burnley and Pendle the new regime began in September and Lancashire County Council is heading a £250million investment to replace the existing 11 high schools in Burnley and Nelson with eight new state-of-the art new ones by 2010 to raise attainment and promote inclusion.

The scheme has encountered difficulties including rows over land and police were called to Hameldon Community College, Burnley 19 times in the first five weeks of term.

But Professor Hargreaves, 57, who emigrated with his teacher wife Pauline in 1987, said it was vital everyone united behind the schemes.

"In Burnley and Pendle it's got imagination and investment but to work the scheme needs to have the commitment of everyone.

"The schemes will depend on the performance of heads, how well can they work together and to me to do well it will depend on the networking and how schools share ideas so it is something all kids have access too.

"Some things are bound to go wrong but when they do it is important not to make a calamity out of it and for the community to work together and remember with BSF we are creating the next generation of Burnley and I think it's a great idea. The same applies with the scheme in Blackburn and Darwen."

Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for schools, Coun Alan Whittaker said: "It is great to get such an endorsement."