DEALS to bring businesses into Blackburn town centre's newly-renovated Pavilion buildings are set to be signed.

Blackburn with Darwen Council says it is close to reaching agreement over space in the £1.3million buildings.

A spokesman also insisted that a cafe and art gallery announced in March was still due to be the first project to open in the Church Street development.

Husband and wife team David and Lucy Verlander plan to turn one of the three units into a cafe and gallery called Papilio. Mr Verlander, a former builder and photographer, said he wanted to exhibit work from Blackburn College art students.

But since the Blackburn couple's plan was announced almost four months ago nothing has happened and the council has been unable to say when the first business will open. Mr and Mrs Verlander were unavailable to comment but a council spokesman said: "The cafe is going to open. There are a few things to sort out but it is definitely going to happen."

The council has made it clear in the past that it priority is to ensure it has high quality businesses in the historic buildings, rather than filling them on a first come first served basis. It is believed that a hairdressers is likely to open in one unit with the third taken by a well-known retailer.

The council is keen to make sure that tenants reflect the work that was put into bringing the 18th Century structures back to life. A spokesman said town hall officers have rejected bids from several 'pound shops' which were deemed unsuitable.