TRADERS across East Lancashire today claimed they had won the first round in their battle to fight off the threat of the Trafford Centre - a year after it opened.

The multi-million pound shopping centre sparked concern among town centre shops in the North West when it opened in Manchester 12 months ago.

But town centre bosses today claimed that investment was flooding into the district's towns.

A new survey by the North West group of the Association of Town Centre Management has also showed more than £1billion is being invested in a range of retail, leisure and residential developments across the North West. Paul Isherwood, Blackburn town centre manager, said £27million was currently being invested in Blackburn.

Some of the money was coming from Europe and the council and would go towards creating an orbital route around the town centre.

Part of the cash has been spent by private investors on the Townsmoor Retail Park in Bolton Road, which opened recently, and the refurbishment of the railway station.

The recent move of HMV to the town had also provided a trading boost for Blackburn

Mr Isherwood said: "During the last 18 months we have had to meet a number of challenges, including the opening of the Trafford Centre last September.

"The investor confidence we are seeing is the result of a number of factors, including the Government focus on urban renaissance and work that the town centre initiative is conducting to bring inward investment.

"By taking positive action through a targeted strategy, we have been able to attract the investment and meet the challenge of the out-of-town centres, particularly the opening of the Trafford Centre."

Burnley Town Centre manager Carl Speight said the pledged investment in the new shopping centre at Curzon Square and in Burnley's planned new bus station was proof of the town's health.

He added: "Sales performance in Burnley over Christmas last year, just after the Trafford Centre had opened, was one and a half per cent up on the previous year.

"And this was compared to a national trend, in which sales were down. There is proof that trend has continued and we have certainly made a very good start against the Trafford Centre."

Chamber of Trade officials in East Lancashire warned that the threat of the Trafford Centre still existed.

Rita Wakeley, of the Blackburn chamber, said: "There is ongoing on competition and we need to keep on our toes. Nothing stands still and we must stay one jump ahead of neighbouring rivals."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.