EMBARRASSED council bosses are spending £40,000 redecorating the official chamber - because they were fed up with visiting dignitaries mocking it.

Hyndburn Council's official meeting room at Accrington Town Hall has not had any maintenance completed since local government reorganisation in 1974.

Peter Britcliffe, leader of the council, said that the room was becoming a "laughing stock" and a "disgrace".

Unveiling a plan to spend £40,000 improving the ceiling and seating along with replacing curtains, carpets and decorations, Coun Britcliffe said: "We are fed up with negative comments from visiting dignitaries.

"I suspect it is the worst council chamber in Lancashire."

Coun Britcliffe said that successive ruling parties in Hyndburn had resisted investing in the chamber because it could be seen as an unpopular move.

But he said that by improving the facilities at the chamber, which is currently just used for official council meetings and functions, it could be used for conferences and meetings and eventually raise an income for the authority.

He said: "We have put off spending any money on the council chamber for years and years and it is looking very scruffy. Everybody says it is a disgrace and for £40,000 we think we can make a difference.

"If these improvements last as long as the previous work then it will be great value for money.

"It has the support of all of the parties in the council.

"We are going to install professional projection facilities that will increase the quality of our own meetings as well as making it a more attractive venue for functions."

Opposition Labour councillor Malcolm Pritchard said the improvement plans were vital for the future of the chamber.

He said: "The work needs doing desperately and we will work hard to make sure that the refurbishment does not spoil the character of the chamber."