COUNCIL bosses have revealed revised plans that could mean carving up Rossendale among neighbouring districts.

Bury Council has gone back to the Boundary Committee suggesting Bury could merge with parts of Rossendale including Haslingden and Rawtenstall, with the Bacup and Whitworth areas merging with Burnley and Rochdale respectively.

Council chiefs in Bury said the move has won support from the majority of the valley's residents.

However, David Hancock, leader of Rossendale council, said Bury was considering taking Rossendale under its wing for its own gain.

He said: "When we needed help it came mostly from East Lancashire authorities and I think that proves a point in itself.

"Bury seems to be the one that started this idea because it is the smallest metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester and its prime concern is to increase its numbers by using our 65,000 population."

The proposals are part of the government's re-assessment about the future of local councils in Lancashire with a shake-up of boundaries on the cards if the regional assembly gets the go-ahead.

As part of the plans affecting Rossendale, three proposals have been put forward, with leaders in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, rejecting a county-wide unitary council.

The other two draft proposals for the future of local government in East Lancashire have also been outlined in a report by the government's boundary committee.

The preferred options are for an East Lancashire unitary authority. The leaders of Rossendale Council and Burnley Council -- councillors David Hancock and Stuart Caddy -- support a merger between Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Coun John Byrne, leader of Bury Council, added: "There is widespread support for some kind of merger between parts of Rossendale and Bury and recognition of the benefits that would bring both communities.

"We would ask again for the Boundary Committee to look again at our credentials when deciding what options should go on the ballot paper."