AN innovative scheme in Pendle helping people get back to work has secured more than £500,000 in funding.

And Pendle MP Gordon Prentice today congratulated the borough council on the success of Tackling Unemployment (TUP), based in Carr Road, Nelson.

The project helps the unemployed to find jobs or those threatened with redundancy alternative work.

Since it started five years ago, it has aided more than 400 with guidance and training.

The latest £580,000 injection, which secures the scheme for three more years, has come from JobCentre Plus and European Social Fund, as well as via Pendle's Local Strategic Partnership

Roger Plum, manager of TUP, added: "The project helps people find permanent jobs and training opportunities and also offers employers wage subsidies and people ready-for-work

"Since January 2001, we have found employment for 454 clients."

Mr Prentice said: "The council is providing an innovative service that really helps people get back on their feet.

"Improving skills and training is the key to job seekers improving not only their job and career prospects but improving the quality of their lives."