THE fight to save Earby Youth Hostel has won support from the borough's MP.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has backed the council's plans to draw up a rescue package to save the historic site, in Birch Lane, which is to close because of a fall in visitors.

The building, formerly the home of Katharine Bruce Glasier, a founder of the Independent Labour Party, was given to the Youth Hostel Association in the 1950s.

The ruling Liberal Democrat group on the council is investigating buying the building from the Youth Hostel Association before it goes to auction next month.

If successful the authority intends to lease it back to the YHA under its enterprise scheme.

Mr Prentice said: "This is clearly one way forward and the council has my full support.

"The deal would involve buying the hostel and leasing it back to the YHA at a peppercorn rent.

"It would be an tragedy if this building, which is so close to the hearts of the Labour movement, were to be lost to youth hostelling."

The hostel is being marketed with a guide price of between £180,000 and £200,000 by agents Dacre Son and Hartley.

It has 22 beds and is the only hostel in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.