PENDLE has become the first borough in Lancashire to appoint a full time canal corridor development co-ordinator.

The role, which will be funded by Pendle Partnership, will involve overseeing the redevelopment of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Nelson and Brierfield.

Patricia Wilson has been appointed to the post having previously worked on the Mersey

Basin Campaign and a community water and sanitation development project in Nigeria.

She will be based in Every Street, Nelson, and will report to neighbourhood manager, Beth Logan.

Environmental improvements to the canal are part of a regeneration scheme that could bring shops, bars, and leisure facilities.

Pendle Partnership has pledged £400,000 to the redevelopment in the hope it will unlock more than ten times as much from other partners.

The partnership will be working with British Waterways, Pendle Community Network, the Environmental Agency, private businesses and housing developers.

Pendle Partnership chairman Dennis Mendoros said: "This is an exciting scheme that could really kick-start regeneration in Nelson and Brierfield. Redeveloping canals has been very successful in other towns and I'm sure we can make it work in Pendle. The canal should be a place for people to exercise, relax, eat and drink, shop, do business and enjoy the natural environment.

"This project has the potential will create hundreds of jobs and boost tourism. It will also provide education opportunities for children and better leisure facilities in Pendle.

"Our challenge now is to make it happen."

Patricia Wilson said: "This is an exciting time to be involved in the canal regeneration.

"I want to oversee real improvements to the quality of the canal environment in Nelson and Brierfield.

"To get maximum benefit from the proposed investment we must ensure that everything is co-ordinated. That's my role."

Vaughan Jones, British Waterways' community development officer for the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, said: "The canal is a major economic, environmental and leisure resource, 10 million visits per year, a £25 million spend and supporting 1,050 jobs.

"Holiday boaters alone are estimated to have spent more than £120,000 in Nelson last year.

"Pendle Council isleading the way by being the first council in Lancashire to appoint a canal project officer."

Pendle residents voted in favour of the canal redevelopment in Brierfield and Nelson, showing a strong preference for activities such as boat trips and picnics, nature study and environmental management.

They also wanted natural habitats and sustainability to be nurtured on the canal, so that young people could be involved in tree care and looking after the canal landscape, as well as local residents adopting a stretch of the canal to keep it tidy.