WORK will get underway next week on a multi-million pound bus and rail interchange in Nelson town centre.

A ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday December 18 will herald the formal start of work on the interchange.

Council officials and representatives from Pendle Partnership will be coming together at the site on Broadway, the existing rail station, at 11am to break the ground.

The £4.5m bus and rail interchange is forming part of the town's regeneration scheme involving Lancashire County Council, Pendle Council and Pendle Partnership.

The interchange is due to be completed by October 2008 and plans include the refurbishment of the rail station, a covered passenger concourse leading onto 10 bus stands and electronic passenger information displays.

County Councillor Tony Martin, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for sustainable development, said: "This is great news for Nelson and is an example of the county council putting its money where its mouth is.

"I am delighted that we have been able to invest several millions of pounds in Nelson as both the town and district of Pendle will benefit greatly.

"It is also pleasing that Pendle Partnership and Pendle Council have been able to join us on this exciting project.

"The new interchange will offer a dramatic improvement for passengers providing facilities fit for the 21st century."

Councillor Alan Davies, Leader of Pendle Council and Chairman of Pendle Partnership, said: "Work is already underway on the state-of-the-art bus and rail interchange which is pushing us another step closer to improving Nelson town centre.

"The interchange is yet another multi-million pound development and comes hot on the heels of the opening of Number One Market Street, where our walk-in Contact Centre, Contact Pendle, is based.

"Things are looking very bright for the future of Nelson. I am absolutely delighted that we will soon be able to provide improved public transport facilities."