FORMER international cricketer Imran Khan offically opened a new neighbourhood learning centre in Audley and Queen's Park area of Blackburn.

More than 300 people turned up to welcome the sports star turned politician, who was in Blackburn to speak at a business dinner at King George's Hall and described it as "an excellent cause".

The centre will provide a base for learning in the community, ranging from drop-in IT sessions to careers guidance and training courses. The centre, which will be open four evenings a week and at weekends, will also provide childcare.

A separate building alongside will become one of 12 Children's Centres being created across the borough to provide nursery education, child care, health services, adult education and family support services.

The evening dinner was hosted by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's education and lifelong learning department in partnership with the Learning Skills Council Lancashire.