TRADE groups have given the thumbs-up to the announcement a tenant has been found for a vacant building at the heart of Blackburn's flagship Church Street regeneration.

The famous king of wallpaper', John Wilman, is back in business, and will open an interior design studio in the third Waterloo Pavilion towards the end of the summer.

Today the announcement was welcomed by the Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade and the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.

It comes six weeks after it was warned that the building could be empty for another two years.

Mr Wilman, who was influential in the Coloroll wallpaper brand in the 1980s and 1990s, has returned to the industry after a six-year absence.

Mr Wilman, who lives in Whalley, said: "When I saw the pavilion I though it was fantastic. What they have done to Church Street is beautiful."

David Cottam, president of Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, today said: "Anything that will bring more people up to that part of the town and make Church Street more vibrant is to be applauded.

"There's nothing worse than an empty building in the town because that puts people off."

Mike Damms, chief executive of East Lancashire chamber of commerce, added: "This is excellent, it will help to showcase that East Lancs is a creative place and that we are not just good at bashing out low value goods."

The three pavilions had stood derelict for more than 20 years before a £1.3million project to restore the Grade II-listed Georgian buildings in 2004.

Finding businesses to occupy the buildings was difficult and it took more than a year before the first pavilion was filled.

Alan Rene Hair and Beauty Salon and Cafe Beees operate in two of the buildings and the third building has been used for art exhibitions while a tenant was found.

Earlier this week Mr Wilman told the Telegraph he was planning to fill the building with unique pieces of furniture and fittings that cannot be easily bought elsewhere.

He also plans to offer a full interior design service.