EXTRA investment and more staff training have enabled Rossendale Council to win back its vehicle operating licence, which it lost last June.

All council vehicles over three and a half tonnes have been run on an interim licence since the traffic commissioner slated poor maintenance, maintenance facilities and inadequate paperwork last summer.

But new gritting vehicles, improved garages and extra staff training impressed the commissioner this week and she reinstated the full national licence.

Councillor Graham Pearson, leader of the council, said: "Many years of under-investment contributed to the loss of the licence and we see this week's good news as vindication of the work we are doing to improve the council's performance.

"We showed her how good we could be and she rewarded us with a five-year licence. The interim licence allowed us only to operate in Rossendale. A national licence means we can tender for work elsewhere if we choose to do so."

Renewal of the vehicle fleet started recently with the leasing of a new footway sweeper, a road maintenance vehicle and two new gritting wagons that could be converted for general use when the weather improves.

More new bin wagons and other vehicles will be leased after April to end the council's pattern of buying secondhand vehicles.