Burnley remains the housing market blackspot of north-west England despite millions of pounds of government investment, says a report by consultancy ECOTEC.

An analysis of Land Registry data presented to Burnley council demonstrated that the gap between house prices in the town and the rest of the North-west had widened since 2003.

It also showed that the difference between house prices in Burnley and the rest of east Lancashire, where house prices are lower than anywhere else in the region, is also widening. Average properties in Pendle, the next lowest value area, cost £16,700 more than in Burnley.

Gordon Birtwistle, the leader of Burnley council, said that the figures reinforced the need for the government to extend its financial commitment to the Elevate East Lancashire housing market pathfinder, which has received £47m over the past two years.