BBC criticised over Burnley coverage during Prince's visit

Bosses at Burnley Council have slammed the BBC over its portrayal of the Lancashire town during news coverage of this week's visit by Prince Charles.

During the visit, the prince saw the Weavers' Triangle in Burnley, the site of a multi-million pound regeneration, and also met local sustainability groups.

However, Burnley Council expressed concern that the BBC Six O'Clock News report on Tuesday predominantly focused on the rundown areas of Burnley, highlighting that the town was the 12th most deprived district in the country.

BBC News home affairs editor Mark Easton said in the report: "No-one can accuse Prince Charles of choosing an easy place to turn around. Burnley was struggling even in the boom years.

"Windows and doors decorated to disguise the desolation. The Prince was shown the inevitable supermarket trolley dredged from the old mill town's canal."

Burnley Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow accused the BBC of taking a "tabloid" approach to its coverage of the Prince's visit to Burnley, deliberately putting forward a negative view of the town.

"The most disappointing and annoying part of the day was the coverage on the BBC national news," he told the Burnley Express.

"The multi-million pound investment in the regeneration of the Weavers' Triangle will create a significant number of jobs and revitalise the area. There was no mention of that - instead the BBC took a 'tabloid' approach and put out a negative story that painted Burnley in a poor light."

Rumbelow confirmed that the council will write to the BBC outlining its concerns about the national coverage, which he said was in contrast to the approach of the regional BBC.

A BBC spokesman said: "We will respond directly to Burnley Council when we receive their correspondence."

On Wednesday, the BBC Trust announced an independent review of the corporation's news coverage of the Arab Spring uprisings on grounds of impartiality and accuracy.