A £19,000 heritage centre is about to open its doors to the Oswaldtwistle public.

Tomorrow (Friday, May 10) the new visitor centre will be officially launched - years after the local civic society began fund-raising for it.

The centre is a joint project between the civic society, Hyndburn Council, Lancashire Enterprises' Green Link Grant and the county council.

Originally, the county council hoped to refurbish the whole building with a £26,000 package and applied to the European Development Fund for grant aid.

But the bid was unsuccessful and plans for the centre, which has filled an empty shop opposite the Civic Theatre in The Straits Conservation Area, had to be reduced.

Winnie Hogan, of the civic society, said: "It will be smaller than we initially envisaged but we are very pleased to see it open after all the hard work we put into organising it."

She added: "We are very lucky to have had some of the country's most famous businessmen living in this area, such as James Hargreaves and Robert Peel.

"Oswaldtwistle has an identity all of its own and this centre will present it in the best possible way."

Council leader George Slynn, who will open the centre, said: "The Visitor and Heritage Centre will provide a valuable amenity for the local community, as well as helping to attract visitors."

The centre will be run by the civic society, which hopes to open it to the public two or three days a week.

Details of opening times will be announced at a later date.

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