TONY Blair today delivered a welcome boost to East Lancashire's bid for £670million to regenerate housing.

He spoke before visiting the Bank Top area of Blackburn where he was due to see how a council's housing regeneration scheme had benefited the community and chat to residents before leaving to speak to students at a technology centre in Nelson.

Mr Blair indicated that the inclusion of Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle in a new "Pathfinder'' scheme to tackle decaying private sector housing was a good sign for the sub-region's bid for £670 million over ten years to tackle property decay dereliction and low demand.

The bid was submitted to the Treasury at the request of Housing Minister Lord Falconer following a visit to the area last year.

Mr Blair said: "The pathfinder projects will allow us to make significant change. Obviously it will take some time to do.

"It will give a big boost to local housing.

"I think we'd better leave the decisions on the £670 million bid to the Chancellor who will make those decisions along with the rest of the government's budget submissions. But I know that Charlie Falconer has been very positive on this. I accept this is a major problem.''

Mr Blair was also full of praise for Blackburn MP and Foreign secretary Jack Straw as well as Blackburn with Darwen Council, which jointly won a council of the year award.

He said:"I think Jack did a very good job as Home Secretary and he put in place what is probably, from the many police I talk to, the most important piece of legislation in recent years which is the crime and disorder partnerships. Jack's doing a good job as Foreign Secretary but I am biased in Jack's favour because he's a good friend of mine. But he has got very good judgement and total integrity.''

The Prime Minister also called on local people to turn out and vote in large numbers in the council poll saying they had a stark choice between Labour that was investing in public services and the Conservatives who would cut them.