LOCAL Government minister David Miliband toured some of the houses being refurbished in Lancashire using Government cash -- and said demolition should be a last resort.

Mr Miliband was shown inside a house in Bank Top, Blackburn, refurbished by Elevate, the housing market renewal company set up by five councils to breathe new life into rundown areas.

One street he saw was Grindleton Road, where houses on one side have been refurbished.

Mr Miliband said: "We have introduced a decent homes standard which many of the local councils are striving to beat when refurbishing houses.

"I think it is important that those in authority consider, when drawing up standards, what they would consider good enough to live in.

He called on local councils to make sure that demolition was only treated as a last resort -- and that if people were forced to move, they were properly compensated.

He added: "The people I have spoken to have told me that the regeneration in areas such as Bank Top is helping create new community spirit."

Coun Kate Hollern, leader of the council, said: "In Blackburn with Darwen we have made sure that the money is targeted to where it is most needed.

"Consultation has taken place with residents across the borough and independent surveys have been commissioned to assess housing stock in key areas."

But Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Tory group at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "It would have been nice for us to have been told that Mr Miliband was in town.

"I am disappointed he wasn't shown Redearth Road in Darwen or Infirmary in Blackburn where there is uproar at demolition."