WOMEN have taken over the workplace in Blackburn, according to new research published by the GMB union.

For the first time, the fairer sex is outnumbering the men on the shopfloor of the town's factories, offices and retail centres.

The research shows that women account for 24,600 of the area's 47,900 employees, outstripping the men by 1,300. The data reveals that 51.4 per cent of workers in Blackburn are women.

In the equal opportunities stakes, Blackburn is ahead of the rest of East Lancashire, where the male is the principal bread winner.

Pendle has the lowest percentage of female employees in East Lancashire, with just 12,600 collecting a pay packet - 44.5 per cent of the workforce. Women in Burnley make up 48.7 per cent of the working population.

The Ribble Valley and Rossendale and Darwen are tied in mid-table of the North West employment gender league, with 48.4 per cent of employees being female.

Hyndburn is not far in front of Burnley, with the ladies making up 45.8 per cent of the workforce.

John Edmunds, general secretary of the GMB, says that the number of women who are breadwinners is outstripping men in many areas.

"The country needs policies to ensure fair treatment for these women," he said.