CRUMBLING schools in East Lancashire are set for a multi-million pound cash boost as part of the government's £1 billion nationwide repairs scheme.

Lancashire County Council will receive more than £3 million, while Blackburn with Darwen Council's final figure is believed to be around £300,000.

Lancashire County Council faces a backlog of more than £70 million-worth of repairs, while Blackburn with Darwen Council inherited many of the county's problems when it took over responsibility for education in 1998.

Schools minister Jacqui Smith said: "We are determined to improve school standards and that means children being taught in weatherproof, warm, well-lit, properly equipped classrooms.

"Our promise to raise standards in schools is not just a question of getting the basics of literacy and numeracy right.

"It also means getting the learning environment right."

A Blackburn with Darwen education department spokesman said: "We welcome the announcement of added funding, given that there is a backlog of repairs needed in our schools to help in the task of raising standards for our pupils.

"We don't yet know our final allocation but we will be bidding under the New Deals for Schools scheme.

"A bid will be formalised towards the end of January.

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