BURNLEY and Pendle councils' bid to merge has failed.
The government made the annoucement this morning after considering proposals from councils across the country to form unitary authorities that run all services in the area they cover.
Burnley and Pendle councils wanted to break away from Lancashire County Council and create a new local authority.
The news has left council bosses in the area "angry" and "disappointed".
They say the larger authority would have provided residents with a better service than the current two-tier system of district and county councils.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article