WORK has begun on re-building a spa at a Nelson leisure centre which went up in flames last year.

The Inside Spa attached to Pendle Wavelengths, off Leeds Road, was devastated by a fire last August and was deemed a 'complete write-off' by accident assessors at the time.

However, last week workers began to re-build the facility, which is set to look 'completely different'.

The new spa will have many features including a vitality pool, herbal bath, sauna, salt inhalation room, aromatherapy room, footbaths and a Rasul room for four people.

Pendle Leisure Trust’s chief executive, Alison Goode, said the fire had caused much frustration but she was relieved that work has finally begun.

She said: “We are absolutely delighted work is finally underway to re-build what will be a truly amazing, state-of-the-art spa.

“It has been a long and very frustrating few months, but it will be well worth the wait.

“The new facility will hopefully re-open the first week in October, when we will look forward to welcoming past, new and future customers.

“We would like to thank all our customers for their patience."

The shutdown of the spa came at a tough time for the leisure trust, which oversees Colne Muni and West Craven Leisure Centre, as it was told it needed to save £320,000 from its budget fro 2016-17.

The nail bar and treatment sessions were temporarily relocated after the blaze to a suite on the ground floor of the ACE Centre in Cross Street while the trust awaited the repairs verdict on the spa rooms.

Private and school swimming lessons were re-allocated to Pendle Leisure Centre, in Colne, and some exercise classes were also transferred to the ACE Centre, which is also managed by the trust.

The rest of the leisure centre was reopened to the public in November after being cleaned and professionally painted.

Pendle councillor Nadeem Ahmed said he was delighted to hear that work had begun to bring the facility back to life.

He said: "The fire was devastating and the facility has been missed.

"We need the spa back in Nelson, it was a very popular facility used by people all across Pendle and I think it's fantastic news that work has now started to rebuild it."