LABOUR has claimed that government cuts to local government spending are hitting some of the the North-West's most deprived councils hardest.

A new party analysis of Whitehall grant reductions says Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and Lancashire County councils are among the worst hit in England.

In advance of local elections on May 3 it says that Labour-run Pendle, Burnley, and Hyndburn boroughs will have suffered the third, fifth and sixth biggest cuts in their spending power per household at 43.71, 43.44 and 42.85 per cent respectively between 2010/11 and 2019/20.

Shadow Local Government Secretary Andrew Gwynne said Lancashire County Council, Labour-controlled until the Conservatives regain power last May, would have received the seventh biggest cash cut to its spending power of £119.14million in the decade to March 31 2020.

He said: “Local government is under enormous pressure because of politically-motivated Tory cuts that hit the poorest hardest. Ordinary families are paying the price as councils are forced to cut services to fill the gap.

A Conservative party spokesman said: "The government is committed to delivering for the North.

"Labour talk about how they would throw money at every area of public services. However they never say how they would pay for all that spending."