THE man in charge of rebuilding East Lancashire's communities today vowed to "fight for our fair share and more."

The local Pathfinder scheme, called Elevate East Lancashire, is one of nine schemes in the country battling for a slice of £500million in Government cash over the next three years.

All have large areas of derelict or empty housing and the cash, the first chunk in a ten-year plan, is designed to help kick-start the regeneration.

But yesterday Government minister Ian McCartney said a large portion of the £670million that East Lancashire councils say they need to implement that plan would come from the private sector.

David Taylor, a former head of English Partnerships and AMEC Developments Ltd, was appointed the chairman of the the Pathfinder earlier this year.

Speaking after the official announcement at Ewood Park, Blackburn, Mr Taylor said: "The hard work begins now. We need to start discussions to get everything in place so we get our fair share. We'll be doing all we can to make sure we get more than our fair share."

A video link-up to Westminster was installed at the lunchtime conference, enabling John Prescott's launch speech in Westminster to be broadcast into the room. It was followed by a speech by minister Ian McCartney, who explained how the project would work in the North West.

The five councils involved in the Pathfinder in East Lancashire -- Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley, Rossendale and Pendle -- estimate £670million will be needed to be spent to sort out communities and housing.

But Mr McCartney refused to guarantee how much of the £500million would come to East Lancashire and how much more money would be forthcoming in future years.

He said: "There will be a very large element of private sector involvement which the Pathfinders will attract.

"It has not been decided how much each Pathfinder will get, that is subject to negotiations which will take place in coming weeks. But it is important that it gets started quickly."

Mr Taylor said: "We estimate that the private sector investment will be on a 4:1 ratio with the public money.

"Our job is to attract that investment. It is a difficult task and people shouldn't expect results overnight.

"We need to be able to take workspace and education space into account as well if we are to build communities for the future."

Coun Mohammed Khan, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member of housing and neighbourhood services, said: "By working together in partnership with other boroughs in East Lancashire and with the Government we can make great strides towards turning this situation around.

"The Pathfinder programme shows the Government is committed to tackling housing problems not just in the social rented sector, but in the private sector too."

Westminster sources say East Lancashire will probably get a large share of the money.

And MPs today said they would make sure ministers knew the severity of the problem in East Lancashire.

At the House of Commons, Burnley MP Peter Pike and Gordon Prentice expressed concern that the money was inadequate and the three year timescale too short.

Mr Prescott assured them that the money announced today was "just a start'' and the beginning of a long term strategy.