The cash should help regenerate rundown areas

The cash will go to five boroughs in Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

It aims to improve the quality of life in deprived neighbourhoods and persuade people not to move away.

Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Salford and Manchester - which are among the 26 most deprived boroughs in the UK - will share £57.2m as part of £175m being handed out nationally.

Crime, employment and the environment will all be tackled using the money.

'Safer streets'

Jeff Rooker, minister for regeneration, said: "Already, we are turning around years of neglect that have blighted our most deprived communities.

"From Liverpool to Lambeth neighbourhoods are benefiting from work to improve people's quality of life, to create places where people want to live, not leave.

"Importantly, we are succeeding through empowering people to drive forward the revitalisation of their communities.

"And the difference is clear to see, whether it's safer streets, more jobs, or a cleaner environment."

Youth employment

The government says people living in deprived areas of the North West have already seen benefits from money invested by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NWF).

It says successful projects have included providing more public transport to local colleges in Halton and improving youth employment in Knowsley.

In Liverpool, abandoned cars have been targeted resulting in a 47% reduction in arson attacks on cars.

Money has also been spent on tackling gang culture in Manchester and giving disabled and disadvantaged people in Salford a better chance of gaining employment.