PLANS to bring millions of pounds of regeneration cash into Rossendale have been revealed.

Councillors have agreed an area development framework for Bacup and Stacksteads which aims to rejuvenate the towns.

Government ministers announced earlier this year that Rossendale would be allowed to join four other East Lancashire's councils - Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle - as part of the 'Pathfinder' scheme which will attract a share of £500million to transform rundown communities and kick-start housing markets.

Plans to revamp rundown houses in Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, are already underway as part of the Pathfinder project.

Work includes rebuilding garden walls, replacing railings and gutterings and sandblasting houses.

The area development framework was agreed at a special meeting of Rossendale Council on Thursday night.

Proposals include clearing derelict buildings, selective demolition of some of the worst housing, creating heritage quarters in Bacup, Stacksteads and Britannia to conserve historic character and an artists village centered around the old market and police station.

The plans will now go to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which will decide on the bids.

Coun Graham Pearson, leader of Rossendale Borough Council, said: "This is a great opportunity for the area. We are already doing a great deal of work in Bacup and Stacksteads such as the new health centre and the new police station and hopefully these plans will add a great deal to that work which has already been started."