HYNDBURN Council was the third worst in England and Wales for processing new housing benefits claims for 1998/99, figures from the Audit Commission figures show.

Councils are legally required to process housing benefit claims within 14 days, but the Audit Commission figures show that Hyndburn Council only managed to process 34 per cent of claims within 14 days during 1998/99, making it the joint third worst offender in the country along with Lambeth.

Only Bexley and Southwark fared worse.

Speaking about the figures at a council cabinet meeting, Councillor Russell Davies said: "During the last administration we were the joint third worst offenders. We have taken on new staff in housing benefits and we are on track now."

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "These figures are referring to waiting times for housing benefits. It is disgraceful that in 1998/99 we were third worst in the country. It is not the place where we want to be.

"Officers were aware we had problems and big steps have been taken to sort this problem out. Our housing benefits department is under dreadful pressure, but because of the dedication of our staff, that problem, although not totally solved, has gone a long way to being rectified.

"We thank them for their efforts to get us out of this."

Coun Jim Dickinson said: "It has been a long haul back, but we are now in control of the situation and have new computer software coming in. There have been almost heroic efforts from members of staff."