THE Salvation Army and Pendle Council have held crisis talks after the authority ordered the charity to leave its Nelson home of more than 40 years.

Bosses at the charity have said the move could mean the end of the charity's presence in the town after more than a century.

They are furious with council top brass who have given them two weeks to quit premises in Russell Street, next to the former Grand Cinema site, which the council says it needs for a major new business centre.

Now the two groups have met and are set to make an announcement about the charity's future in the town.

The charity says the council's action could threaten its work with homeless and vulnerable groups and a 3,000-name petition has been handed asking the council to reconsider.

But the council says it has done all it can to help the charity move and that backing down would threaten the multi-million pound development.

The charity was offered alternative accommodation, but bosses say it is not suitable.

Council leader Alan Davies said: "Pendle Council was very keen to meet with the Salvation Army to discuss their relocation.

"There are no barriers to a discussion and I hope things can be resolved.

"We have done our very best to let them stay on the site for as long as possible, letting them stay over seven months longer than all the other businesses and organisations on that site."

The £8m regeneration scheme will see the Grand Cinema site opposite Nelson Town Hall transformed into a modern development which civic leaders hope will kick-start revival of the town centre.

Around 500 people will work in the centre when it is finished and a landscaped, lit central plaza with bistro will invite people in from all over the town.

Shops will run along the front facing the town hall.