ENGLAND soccer legend Sir Bobby Charlton gladly accepted a booking of a different sort yesterday and admitted he was happy to take a break from his role in Manchester United's treble challenge.

Sir Bobby was at beds giant Silentnight to officially open the company's massive new exhibition centre at Salterforth, near Barnoldswick.

The former Manchester United striker and England World Cup hero joked that after his team's tense FA Cup semi-final win against Arsenal and with this Wednesday's trip to Juventus for the second leg of the Champions League semi, a trip to a beds centre was a welcome break from a 'dull' routine.

The centre, which almost doubles the firm's exhibition space, is a market leader in the industry and attracted visitors from across the country and Europe to see the stands of various Silentnight subsidiaries. Independent firms Furnico, of Colne, and Midlands-based Frayling Furniture also have space in the centre.

"It was striking when I walked through the door and saw this showroom," Sir Bobby told guests. "I've not seen as nice a showroom as this.

"I like this part of the world. It's not often we come up here. We have a lot of friends up here.

"I want to pass my best wishes to Silentnight. You read about this recession and everyone assumes we're having a slump but when something like this opens it's a breath of fresh air and it's really good."

Group chief executive Bill Simpson, said it was the dream of Silentnight's founder, the late Tom Clarke, to have an exhibition centre. "He would have been proud to be here today," he told the audience, which included Mr Clarke's widow, Joan.

The centre will stage three major trade shows a year, as well as act as a 'shop window' the year round for Silentnight products.

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