THE fight against poverty in Hyndburn received a cash contribution at a conference aimed at building better communities in the borough.

Social security minister Angela Eagle visited to Sparth House Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, to speak at the social inclusion seminar.

County and town hall chiefs are joining forces to set the ball rolling on the government's neighbourhood improvement programme.

And County Councillor Frank McKenna, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, has promised £50,000 from County Hall funds to help schemes along.

Hyndburn has been chosen as one of Lancashire's pilot areas for the strategy, which aims to tackle the root causes of poverty by involving people from all sections of the community.

Coun McKenna said: "We will focus on issues like unemployment, low pay, health, crime and the environment.

"Local people must have their say to develop real solutions that will make a real difference."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope added: "I'm really glad Hyndburn has been chosen.

"Social inclusion is one of the government's big ideas.

"We can't just turn our backs on people who haven't been lucky in life and it's important this succeeds."

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