A MAJOR £1.2 million redevelopment of one of Pendle's most prominent buildings into a business centre will be unveiled next week.

It is hoped the extensive facelift at Linden House, Colne --the former Nelson and Colne College hairdressing and beauty department -- will attract new businesses into the area and create jobs.

The three storey listed building, behind Colne Municipal Hall, will be known as Linden Business Centre and will house 19 office suites.

It will be officially opened on Thursday by North West Development Agency deputy chairman Mike Doyle.

The refurbishment was supported by regeneration consortium Pendle Partnership, the European Union and Nelson-based developer Barnfield Construction which carried out the building work.

Tracy Burton, of Barnfield, said: "The project has been a huge success. People who saw the building prior to the refurbishment won't believe it's the same building.

She said the office suites compared favourably to those found in bigger cities such as Manchester.

"We are certain that its image will attract new businesses to the area, enhancing Colne as a town and creating employment for Pendle as a region."