TAX-payers have been told they will not have to fork out a penny to fund a council's name change.

Residents in Hyndburn have raised concerns that they will have to foot the bill following the ann-ouncement that the borough council intends to change its name to Accrington and Districts Council.

Officials feel that the borough has lost its identity and a new image - and name - could bring about a renaissance. Plans include promoting the five main towns: Accrington, Great Harwood, Oswald-twistle, Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors with the creation of individual crests. These would appear on signs marking the boundaries of the town, on council correspondence and vehicles.

While the proposals have mostly met with approval from councillors and residents, fears have been voiced that the cost of such changes will be reflected in future council tax bills.

However, council leader Peter Britcliffe has announced that the expense had already been taken into account in budget planning in April.

Coun Britcliffe said: "If the borough's current signs were horses they would be taken to the knacker's yard. When we approved the budget we made provision for new signage - it won't cost any more to have a different name put on it."

He continued: "The logos that are printed on our stationery are kept in a computer, so it just means changing the designs on the computer.

"The crests will not be put on council vehicles until these are due to be replaced, which will be done as and when over a three-year period. How-ever, many of our vans now have slots on the side of them that allows us to slide in new messages when we want to, so changes can be phased in that way."

Coun Britcliffe added: "The name change will be cost neutral. We are going to put Accrington back on the map, but in doing so I promise that tax payers will not pay a single penny."