GOVERNMENT min-ister Hilary Armstrong dropped in to Burnley to chat to residents, councillors and council hopefuls.

The North West Durham MP and Government Minister for the Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion visited the town yesterday with the MP for Rossendale and Darwen, Janet Anderson.

The pair had lunch with Burnley MP Kitty Ussher at the Labour Party office.

Then it was on to a question and answer session with councillors and candidates for next month's council elections.

The MPs then joined election candidate and former Queensgate councillor Peter Kenyon for a trip around the Gannow area of town where they met local residents.