Burnley is UK's most enterprising area

Burnley has been named by the government as the most enterprising area of the UK, singling out the Bondholders for special praise.

The town won the category at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' Enterprising Britain Awards, which are designed to celebrate the best public initiatives and public-private partnerships that promote business development.

Hackney Council, Aberdeen College and the Premier League took home the other three titles. They will now go on to represent the UK at the European Awards in November.

Business minister Michael Fallon said: “The Burnley Bondholders scheme is reinvigorating the local economy and helping to change perceptions of Burnley. Initiatives like this are working hard to boost growth and thoroughly deserve recognition."

Burnley council leader Julie Cooper said: “This is fantastic news for Burnley. We are punching above our weight and we have big ambitions. Burnley is well on its way to forging a strong international reputation as a centre of excellence for manufacturing, particularly in the aerospace industry. "This award reflects Burnley's growing stature in showing the way to the rest of the country in promoting manufacturing in Britain and puts us on the map."