COCK-A-HOOP council bosses in Burnley hailed a "Budget of hope" after chancellor Gordon Brown presented Labour's first economic package in a generation.

And there was a warm welcome too from health watchdogs who said the Budget marked the first major step in rejuvenating the service and handing it back into the hands of the people.

Burnley Council leader Kath Reade said Mr Brown had delivered the social and economic pledges laid down by the party in its manifesto.

"The promises have been kept. It is a wonderful start," she said.

Coun Reade said Burnley council would link with many of the Chancellor's measures - such as the welfare to work, job training, help for child care and insulation for the homes of elderly people - to help them succeed.

"There are many other things too like the real cash inputs into health and education where it matters and the cut in VAT on fuel and the extra money which will be going into new house building and repair. "The budget is going to give people real hope for better education, training and opportunities for work."

"Although not everything can be done at once, we have witnessed in this Budget a Government with the will to improve the life of the people and we are just raring to go to help it do so."

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council chairman Coun Frank Clifford said the 2.25 per cent rise in patient care spending over inflation was a prescription for real improvement in the health service. He also welcomed the government's clear intent to bring about amalgamation of some health trusts - a signal he believed would force the likes of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust to link with the care -in-the-community Communicare trust to provide a single all-embracing service.

Burnley Liberal Democrat leader Gordon Birtwistle, Pendle Council leader Alan Davies and Pendle Conservative spokesman Shelagh Derwent, were not available for comment.

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