MORE than 1,000 jobs have been created in Pendle in the past year through millions of pounds of investment in the borough.

According to Pendle Partnership more than £2.5million of European cash triggered nearly £7.7m of other investment creating 1,226 jobs, as well as safeguarding a further 1,630 posts.

Council leader Coun Alan Davies, chairman of the organisation set up to improve the borough, today said he was delighted with the findings.

He said that in the coming year officials would be contacting business bosses in Pendle to draw up a 10-year action plan to create further jobs and investment.

Coun Davies said: "It has been a fantastic year of consolidation and building on the foundations of previous years. It is pleasing to know we are in a position to help and assist Pendle companies and we hope to be able to continue the same this year.

"What we hope to do in the coming year is spend some time with the industrialists in the borough and get together to form a vision where we can start to plan over a much longer period."

Pendle Partnership is made up of a range of bodies including businesses, community groups, police, and councillors.

As well as the jobs the scheme last year helped: l 1,971 people get a qualification.

l 636 people receive jobs training and advice.

l 1,432 businesses receive help.

l Refurbish 15,733 sq metres of office and retail space.

Coun Davies said the scheme had helped reduce Pendle's unemployment rate to about two per cent and officials would now try to encourage more people who did not work or claim benefits to find a job.

He added: "The employment rate in Pendle is remarkably low and we are now going to start on the worklessness rate which is people who are not on benefits but not working."